San Diego @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2012 ) San Diego 3, Milwaukee 4
The Milwaukee Brewers attempt to complete a sweep Wednesday when they host the San Diego Padres in the finale of their season-ending three-game series. After going 0-2-1 in its previous three series, Milwaukee captured the first two games of the set, including a 4-3 triumph on Tuesday that saw Martin Maldonado hit his first career grand slam. The blast was the Brewers' National League-leading 202nd of the season.
San Diego battled back from a 4-0 deficit to get within one and had the tying run on third base with two outs in the ninth inning before John Axford retired Logan Forsythe, sending the Padres to their sixth loss in seven games. Neither San Diego's Chase Headley (113) nor Milwaukee's Ryan Braun (112) has registered an RBI in the series, leaving Headley one ahead of Braun for the NL lead entering the season finale. Braun is atop the NL in home runs with 41, four more than Miami's Giancarlo Stanton.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN (San Diego, Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Andrew Werner (2-3, 4.78 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Josh Stinson (0-0, 0.00)
Werner is coming off back-to-back losses to NL West champion San Francisco, including a home setback on Friday in which he allowed three runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old surrendered five runs in each of his previous two starts after yielding a total of seven runs in his first four major-league outings. Werner has surrendered seven runs over 9 2/3 frames in two road starts this year.
Stinson will make his first major-league start in place of Yovani Gallardo, whom the Brewers decided has pitched enough this season. Stinson has worked 18 1/3 scoreless innings of relief over five games this year, allowing four hits and three walks with three strikeouts. The 24-year-old went 0-2 with one save in 14 relief appearances with the New York Mets in 2011.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Brewers have won 22 of their last 27 home games.
2. Headley, who already has set career highs in RBIs, homers (31), hits (171), runs (94) and walks (84), needs one double and one stolen base to match two more personal bests. He enters Wednesday with 30 doubles and 16 steals.
3. Milwaukee's pitching staff recorded 10 strikeouts Tuesday, raising its season total to 1,396. It needs nine strikeouts on Wednesday to eclipse the 2003 Chicago Cubs' all-time record.