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Milwaukee Brewers are still fighting for their first postseason appearance since the 1982 World Series and will begin a three-game set tonight versus the rival
Chicago Cubs at Miller Park.
Milwaukee is tied with the New York Mets atop the National League Wild Card standings and hasn't sniffed the playoffs since losing to the St. Louis Cardinals, four games to three, in the 1982 Fall Classic. The Brewers have won four straight games and completed a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday with Ryan Braun's game-winning grand slam in the 10th inning.
Bill Hall went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Prince Fielder and Jason Kendall both recorded a pair of hits for Milwaukee. Starter Yovani Gallardo did not factor in the outcome after yielding one run and three hits in four innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. Seven relievers then combined to throw shutout ball the rest of the way with Mitch Stetter collecting the win with a strikeout in the 10th inning.
Jeff Suppan will try to keep the Brewers in the win column when he takes the hill on Friday. Suppan has lost two straight and three of his last four starts, including last Friday's 11-2 loss at Cincinnati. He was reached for five runs in just two innings to fall to 10-10 with a 5.06 ERA this season.
The right-hander, who has given up at least three runs in seven of his previous nine starts, is 6-6 in 18 career matchups with Chicago. Suppan is 1-1 in two starts against the Cubs this season.
Chicago just split a four-game series with the New York Mets at Shea Stadium and suffered a 7-6 setback in Thursday's series finale. Cubs rookie Micah Hoffpauir hit his first two major league home runs, finishing 5-for-5 with five RBI in a losing effort. Mike Fontenot had three hits for the National League Central-champion Cubs, who blew a three-run lead but have already clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.
Starter Rich Harden allowed three runs -- two earned -- on two hits and five walks while fanning four in the no-decision. Kevin Hart took the loss after allowing the game-winning run in the ninth.
The Cubs will hand pitching duties over to Ryan Dempster on Friday and he is 17-6 with a 2.99 earned run average in 32 starts this season. Dempster has won two consecutive starts and is 5-1 over the past six decisions. He earned the win the last time out on Sunday versus St. Louis, limiting the Cardinals to a run and six hits in five frames of a 5-1 triumph.
Dempster will face Milwaukee for the fifth time in 2008 and is 4-0 with a 2.52 ERA against the Brewers so far. The right-hander is 8-2 in 34 lifetime encounters (12 starts) with Milwaukee.
Chicago has won six of the last seven contests with Milwaukee, including a four-game sweep at Miller Park from July 28-31. The Cubs are 8-5 against the Brewers this season.
