Florida Marlins (26-28) at Milwaukee Brewers (30-24), 8:05 p.m.
(Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers shoot for back-to-back wins for the
first time in nearly two weeks when they continue their four-game series with
the Florida Marlins tonight at Miller Park.
The Brewers held the best record in baseball earlier in the season, but a
recent six-game losing streak has made that start a distant memory. The club
is trying to get back on track and has won two of its last three games,
including yesterday's 4-3 series-opening victory over the Marlins.
The Brewers last won consecutive games on May 20-21 against Minnesota and Los
Angeles, but still lead the NL Central by 6 1/2 games over a trio of other
teams.
J.J. Hardy went 3-for-4 with two runs driven in on Thursday, and his RBI
single in the eighth inning put the Brewers in front for good. Prince Fielder
hit his 19th home run of the season, tied with the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez for
most in the majors. He has now homered in four straight games.
Carlos Villanueva (4-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the
win, while Francisco Cordero closed out the game with a scoreless inning for
his 19th save.
The Brewers, who improved to 2-2 on a 10-game homestand, were without Rickie
Weeks after placing the second baseman on the 15-day disabled list yesterday
because of tendinitis in his right wrist.
Matt Lindstrom (0-2) took the loss for the Marlins after yielding Hardy's run-
scoring single in his one inning of relief. Starter Wes Obermueller gave up
six hits and three runs over seven full innings for Florida.
Miguel Cabrera drove in a pair for the Marlins, who saw their three-game win
streak halted and lost for the first time on their current 11-game road trip
(3-1). Hanley Ramirez added a sacrifice fly in the loss.
The Marlins attempted to shore up the bullpen on Thursday, acquiring Giants
closer Armando Benitez for pitcher Randy Messenger. Benitez has struggled this
year, going 0-3 with a 4.67 earned run average in 19 games and nine saves in
11 chances.
The 34-year-old hurler returns to Florida, where he set a career-high in saves
with 47 in 2004.
Messenger went 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 23 games for the Marlins in 2007.
The acquisition of Benitez, along with yesterday's activation of reliever
Henry Owens from the disabled list, will give the Marlins some new options out
of the bullpen. Owens had been sidelined since mid-May due to right rotator
cuff tendinitis.
Florida lefty Scott Olsen will try to bounce back from a rough start last
Sunday with tonight's outing. Olsen was roughed up for five runs on six hits
with seven strikeouts in five innings during a loss to the Mets that dropped
the hurler to 4-4 with a 5.11 ERA.
The 23-year-old has made two career starts against Milwaukee and is 1-0 with
an excellent 1.42 ERA. He has 15 strikeouts in a span of 12 2/3 innings over
those outings.
The Brewers will give the ball to Jeff Suppan tonight and the righty is just
1-3 over his last four starts.
Suppan, who has received a decision in each of his 11 starts this year,
pitched Sunday against the Padres and suffered the loss. He allowed three runs
on six hits and six walks and was on the wrong side of a 3-0 shutout that
dropped him to 6-5 with a 3.58 earned run average on the year.
The right-hander lost his lone start of the year to the Marlins on April 9,
and is 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 10 career starts against Florida.
Milwaukee took two of three games from the Marlins in Miami last month, but
Florida won all seven meetings between the clubs in 2006. Thursday's loss
snapped a four-game winning streak for the Marlins at Miller Park.