Gallardo hopes to get Brewers back on track versus Twins
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Returning ace Yovani Gallardo tries to continue a recent burst of success tonight when the Milwaukee Brewers visit Target Field for the first of three interleague games with the host Minnesota Twins.
A 17-game winner en route to the playoffs last season, Gallardo opened this season with just one win in his first six starts while posting a bloated 5.79 earned run average.
He's won four of six decisions across seven starts since, including a 6-5 victory against San Diego on June 10 that got him back to .500 on the season. In that win, the 26-year-old gave up an earned run on five hits in seven innings, lowering the ERA to 4.21 through 77 innings.
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Gallardo pitched six innings against the Twins in a no-decision on May 19 - won by Minnesota, 5-4 - and is 2-1 against them in five career starts.
He'll be opposed by Dominican lefty Francisco Liriano, who's won just once in 14 appearances in 2012.
The 28-year-old was 0-5 while splitting time between starting and relieving in his initial 11 outings, then broke through for a 4-0 win against Oakland in a six-inning start on May 30.
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In that game, Liriano allowed three hits, walked two and struck out nine.
He's 0-2 in two efforts since, allowing eight hits and five runs in 11 2/3 innings against Kansas City and the Chicago Cubs.
Liriano pitched one inning of relief against Milwaukee in the Twins' 11-3 win on May 18 and is 4-2 against the Brewers in seven career meetings.
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On Thursday in Kansas City, the Royals came from behind in the ninth inning for the second straight night, beating the Brewers 4-3 to complete a three- game sweep.
Brayan Pena stroked a pinch-hit single in the ninth off of John Axford (1-3) to score two runs and win the game. Axford suffered the loss after blowing his second save in as many nights. He gave up two runs on one hit and a walk.
Starter Shaun Marcum scattered four hits and two walks across a season-best 7 2/3 innings en route to a no-decision.
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Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez hit home runs for the Brewers, who have lost four of five.
In Minnesota, Jim Thome smacked his interleague-leading 62nd homer, a towering three-run shot in the top of the third inning, while Joe Blanton twirled his second complete game this season as Philadelphia downed the Twins, 6-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Scott Diamond (5-2) was charged with four runs on five hits and two walks in six innings for Minnesota, which has dropped three of its last four.
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Minnesota took two of three from the Brewers earlier in the season.