Runs could be hard to come by in this finale between the Brewers and hosting Braves given the history of the two starting pitchers.
Atlanta's Brandon Beachy aims to extend his club's home winning streak over Milwaukee, which pins its hopes this afternoon on Chris Narveson.
Narveson and Beachy have both faced their respective opponents twice in their careers and have combined to allow just three runs over 24 innings.
Narveson, 30, is 1-0 with a 1.50 earned run average in his two outings against the Braves, while the 25-year-old Minor does not have a decision in two games despite allowing one run over 12 innings with 16 strikeouts.
The left-handed Narveson picked up a win in his season debut on Tuesday versus the Cubs, giving up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks over five innings of a 7-4 triumph.
"[Narveson] did a nice job of battling," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.
Beachy, meanwhile, was hit with a loss in his first start of 2012. The right- hander faced the Astros on Monday and was charged with four runs over five innings, but just one was earned as Atlanta committed four errors in one game, three by third baseman Juan Francisco.
Behind Beachy, the Braves look to sweep this three-game series with the Brewers and run their home winning streak against the club to eight games in a row. Thanks to solid pitching from Mike Minor, Atlanta took Saturday's encounter by a 2-1 score.
Minor gave up just two hits over a career-high 7 1/3 innings, getting charged with one unearned run in the eighth inning. Jonny Venters escaped trouble later in the eighth and Craig Kimbrel got out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to record his fourth save of the year.
"It was a lot of fun just because I got past the fifth inning and helped the team out, helped the bullpen out," Minor said. "You know we didn't have to use a lot of guys."
It was Atlanta's 15th victory in its past 21 versus Milwaukee and that includes a sweep of a four-game set at home last May.
Shaun Marcum was the hard-luck loser as the righty allowed three hits and two runs while walking a pair and fanning six over seven innings.
"Anytime they're close like that and a hit here or there can win a game for you, those are always fun games to be a part of," Marcum said after his club's third straight loss.
Milwaukee is expected to again be without shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who was placed on the paternity list and traveled to Florida to be with his expecting wife. Gonzalez is likely to return for Tuesday's home contest with the Dodgers.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is hoping Chipper Jones can return to the starting lineup after sitting out the first two game of this series due to swelling around his surgically repaired left knee. Jones was available to pinch hit on Saturday.
On this the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier Major League Baseball is commemorating this special occasion by having all players and on-field personnel once again wear the Hall of Famer's No. 42 in addition to other pregame festivities.
No comments:
Post a Comment