Milwaukee @ San Francisco preview
AT&T Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 18, 2013 ) San Francisco 2, Milwaukee 7
The San Francisco Giants attempt to break out of their funk at home Monday as they host the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of their four-game series. San Francisco returns to familiar surroundings following a 3-3 road trip but has lost seven of eight in its own ballpark, with the only victory coming in what was designated as a road game against the Cincinnati Reds. The Giants are all but out of the playoff race, as they trail the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers by 12 games in the National League West and are 11 behind Cincinnati for the second wild-card spot.
While San Francisco squandered a two-run lead Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays en route to its second straight defeat, Milwaukee erupted offensively versus the Washington Nationals and snapped its three-game losing streak. Jeff Bianchi recorded three RBIs and Juan Francisco drove in a pair of runs as the Brewers scored eight runs after crossing the plate only twice during their slide. The victory was just the second in seven home games for Milwaukee, which is beginning a nine-game road trip.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Tyler Thornburg (1-0, 2.22 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chad Gaudin (5-2, 2.64)
Thornburg will make his fifth career start and second this season. The 24-year-old tossed six scoreless innings in his first start of 2013 at Chicago on Tuesday, limiting the Cubs to four hits while walking three and striking out six. It was the longest major-league outing for Thornburg, who did not last more than 5 1/3 frames in any of his three starts last year.
Gaudin improved to 5-1 since joining the Giants' rotation as he allowed one run and four hits over seven innings at Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 30-year-old has yielded two runs or fewer in seven of his nine starts after making 18 relief appearances. Gaudin is 2-0 lifetime against the Brewers but has surrendered 18 runs (10 earned) over 12 1/3 frames in 11 meetings, including one start.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Brewers scored a total of 21 runs while sweeping a three-game series against the Giants at home in April.
2. San Francisco RHP Ryan Vogelsong (hand) yielded one run and five hits over six innings in a rehab start for Double-A Richmond on Sunday.
3. Milwaukee 3B Aramis Ramirez, who has not played since July 6 due to a knee injury, could return at some point during the team's road trip.
PREDICTION: Giants 3, Brewers 1