Arizona @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 5, 2011 ) Milwaukee 6, Arizona 10

THE STORY: After the Milwaukee Brewers dominated the first two games of the National League Division Series, the Arizona Diamondbacks found their bats in the desert. The first team since the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 to hit grand slams in back-to-back games in a postseason series, the Diamondbacks bashed their way back to even. Yovani Gallardo will try to slow the Arizona attack and earn his second win of the series when the Brewers host a decisive Game 5 in the National League Division Series on Friday.

TV: 5:07 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 1.12 ERA).

Kennedy got knocked around for four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings in Game 1 last week. His big mistake came in the seventh, when Prince Fielder belted a two-run homer right to extend the Milwaukee lead to 4-0. Kennedy finished the regular season with wins in his final seven decisions and pitched seven scoreless innings in his lone start against the Brewers on July 21.

Gallardo dominated the first game, striking out nine and yielding only one run on four hits in eight innings to grab the win. The 25-year old retired 14 of 15 through the middle innings, allowing the Brewers to pull away. Gallardo has never lost to Arizona in his career, posting a 5-0 record with a 1.20 ERA in five regular season starts.

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS: Arizona is attempting to become the first National League team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series in the wild card era. Paul Goldschmidt’s grand slam sparked the Game 3 win and Ryan Roberts followed that up right away in Game 4, blasting a grand slam of his own down the left field line in the first inning. Chris Young added two homers and three RBIs in the 10-6 triumph.

ABOUT THE BREWERS: The pressure is on Milwaukee, which is down to its final chance to close out the series after winning the first two games. Working in the Brewers’ favor besides Gallardo on the mound is Miller Park, where they posted the best home record in the majors at 57-24. Ryan Braun was just 1-for-7 at Chase Field after going 6-for-8 in the first two games.

FINAL PITCH: The Diamondbacks, who had grand slams in their final two home games of the regular season, became the first team ever with slams in four straight home games.