The Milwaukee Brewers will try to extend their winning streak to four straight games today when they play the second of a four-game series against the Miami Marlins.
The Brewers had to battle back from a pair of early deficits in last night's opener, falling behind 2-0 and 5-2 before finally going ahead for good in the eighth inning. Rickie Weeks scored on a squeeze bunt from pinch-hitter Norichika Aoki in the frame as Milwaukee claimed a 6-5 win.
Zack Greinke, who is a perfect 15-0 at Miller Park, was in jeopardy of losing his first decision at home as a Brewer after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks in six innings. However, he was let off the hook when the Brewers tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, as pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa delivered a two-out, two-strike single that plated a run.
"It was a pretty bad outing," Greinke said. "I got picked up. I threw a little bit better in the fourth, fifth and sixth. I didn't have much working. It's good to win this type of game, that we've been struggling in lately."
Carlos Zambrano also received a no-decision after giving up five runs -- three earned -- on five hits and four walks in six innings for the Marlins.
"It was a pretty ugly one," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Carlos was a little weird today, but I wouldn't say he was bad. We made too many mistakes today to win."
Justin Ruggiano hit a two-run home run and knocked in four runs for the Marlins, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.
Miami also lost its ninth in a row to Milwaukee and hasn't beaten the club since Sept. 25, 2010 at Miller Park.
Anibal Sanchez will look to halt that skid today after snapping his own personal losing streak last time out. The right-hander won for the first time in four decisions with a 5-3 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday, giving up three runs over seven innings.
Sanchez picked up his first victory since May 29 and also got more than three runs of support for the first time since April 9, his first start of 2012. Overall, he improved to 4-6 with a 3.94 earned run average in 15 outings and has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of those games.
The 28-year-old is 2-1 with a 4.73 ERA in six career starts versus the Brewers.
Milwaukee's Marco Estrada will look to build off a solid return from the disabled list on Tuesday in a no-decision against the Reds. It was his first appearance in over a month due to a right quadriceps strain and Estrada struck out a career-high 12 batters over six innings. The only runs the right-hander allowed came on a three-run homer.
Estrada is 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 games this season, including seven starts, and only one of his previous five appearances against the Marlins came as a starter.
That outing came on Sept. 12, 2009 while with the Nationals and the 28-year- old was tagged for five runs over just 2 1/3 innings of a loss.
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