Brewers go after third straight win against Giants

The Milwaukee Brewers eye a third straight win on Wednesday when they continue a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park.

After being shutout in consecutive contests in St. Louis over the weekend, Milwaukee salvaged the finale of that set on Sunday and then saw its offense explode in Tuesday's opener against the Giants, as Yuniesky Betancourt hit a grand slam in the third inning and lifted the Brewers to a 10-8 win.

Carlos Gomez and Norichika Aoki each knocked solo shots while Rickie Weeks and Jonathan Lucroy had two RBI apiece for the Brewers, who had lost three in a row before an extra-inning win over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Brewers starter Wily Peralta lasted just four innings, giving up six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and three walks. Brandon Kintzler (2-0) earned the win for Milwaukee. Jim Henderson allowed one run on two hits in the ninth but picked up his second save of the season.

"Peralta had to battle ... they're a good team and they can really hit," Lucroy said. " I think Peralta was trying to do a little too much. He wasn't sharp but he held them down."

Barry Zito (2-1) was battered, surrendering nine runs in 2 2/3 innings. Prior to the game, he hadn't allowed a run in 14 innings this season and won 11 straight games dating back to last season, including the playoffs.

"Baseball is kind of a strange game," said Zito. "I felt better in this game that I did in the first two games. I have to tip my hat to them."

Pablo Sandoval drove in four runs and Brandon Crawford had a solo home run for the Giants, who lost for the second time in their last eight tries.

Milwaukee's lineup will try to lend similar support to righty Kyle Lohse on Wednesday. Lohse lost to the Cardinals on Friday, but pitched well, as he allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, but fell to 0-1 on the year to go along with a 2.08 ERA. The Brewers have managed just one run in his two starts.

"Outstanding so far," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said of Lohse. "In the short time that I've seen him, he's a great teammate, he prepares himself really well -- not just the mental part of it but the physical part. ... He's a smart guy who knows how to pitch."

Lohse has faced the Giants five times and is 3-2 against them with a 3.78 ERA.

San Francisco, meanwhile, will counter with righty Ryan Vogelsong, who is 1-1 with a 7.15 ERA. Vogelsong picked up his first win of the season on Thursday in Chicago, as he held the Cubs to five runs (4 earned) and eight hits in six innings. He also struck out five and walked a batter.

Vogelsong is 2-3 lifetime versus the Brewers with a 6.49 ERA in 11 games (6 starts).

San Francisco won four of its six meetings with the Brewers last season.