Brewers pin hopes on Gallardo in middle tilt with Reds
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - Facing an uphill battle in the chase for a playoff spot, the Brewers hope Yovani Gallardo can break out of a personal winless stretch tonight when Milwaukee resumes its three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Brewers enter Saturday with a 1 1/2 game deficit on second-place Pittsburgh in the wild card standings. The Brewers are also four games behind NL Central-leading St. Louis. They have lost Gallardo's last seven starts at Miller Park.
Gallardo, who will make his 30th start of 2014, is 0-3 with a 5.95 ERA over his last four starts. He's given up 13 runs -- 10 earned -- over his last two starts, covering 8 2/3 innings. The righty is 7-7 with a 4.17 ERA in 23 career starts against the Reds.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}David Holmberg gets the ball for the Reds in his fifth appearance and third start of 2014. The left-hander hasn't started a game since Aug. 21 against Atlanta when he surrendered five hits and six runs over 2 2/3 innings of an 8-0 loss to the Braves. His last two efforts have come in relief.
Last night, Lyle Overbay's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Brewers to a 3-2 win. Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy both had two hits with a walk and an RBI for Milwaukee, which has won three straight after dropping 16 of 19.
The Brewers remained 1 1/2 games out of the NL's second wild-card spot.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lucroy doubled to the gap in left-center field to begin the ninth and took third base on a groundout. After Jumbo Diaz (0-1) intentionally walked the next two batters, Overbay jumped on a first-pitch fastball and drove it to left field to score pinch-runner Logan Schafer.
"He's done a really good job pinch-hitting, he's done a really good job hitting with people on base," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of Overbay. "You feel good with him up there."
Milwaukee closer Francisco Rodriguez (5-5) got the win after striking out pinch-hitter Jack Hannahan looking with runners on second and third for the final out in the top of the ninth. Hannahan was ejected by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The teams have split 14 meetings this season.