Ian Kennedy gets the call for the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight in the opener of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.
Since a personal two-game winning streak from May 30-June 5, Kennedy is 0-2 with a 6.50 earned run average in his past three starts and was hammered in his most recent appearance last Saturday. In a 10-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs, Kennedy did not record a decision and gave up five runs and 10 hits in just 4 1/3 innings.
Kennedy remained at 5-7 on the season and raised his ERA to 4.42 though 15 starts. The right-hander lost to Milwaukee on May 25, as he was reached for four runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 7-1 setback. Kennedy is only 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers and 2-5 in eight road assignments this season.
Arizona is coming off Thursday's 3-2 win at Atlanta and salvaged the finale of the three-game series thanks to Chris Young's solo home run in the top of the ninth inning. It was Young's second home run in as many days. Jason Kubel had two hits and drove in the other two runs for the Diamondbacks, who won for the fifth time in seven tries.
"It was just one of those types of games that we needed to find a way to win," said Young. "It was nice to get the hit. It's nice to get a win leaving here."
David Hernandez (1-1) picked up the win with a scoreless eighth inning and J.J. Putz came on in the bottom of the ninth and retired the side in order to lock down his 14th save of the season. Young starter Trevor Bauer made his major league debut for the D-backs and allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts over four innings.
Arizona snapped a six-game skid against the Braves at Turner Field and had dropped its previous four road games.
Milwaukee is back in Brew City for seven games against the Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins, and went 2-4 on a road trip against the White Sox and Reds.
The Brewers ended a four-game slide and recorded an 8-4 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday. Rickie Weeks and Cody Ransom both hit two-run homers and Aramis Ramirez finished with a pair of RBI for Milwaukee.
Brewers starter Zack Greinke picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk over six innings. He improved to 4-0 in six career starts against the Reds.
"I feel like we've been playing good all month and just not putting any streaks together," said Greinke.
Milwaukee will try to put together a winning streak with Randy Wolf on the hill, but he hasn't won since April 30 at San Diego, going 0-3 with a 4.65 earned run average in his last 10 starts. The Brewers are 3-7 in that time and Wolf has compiled four straight no-decisions.
Wolf was roughed up for five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of an 8-6 loss against the White Sox last Saturday and did not walk a batter for the second time this season. Wolf is still 2-5 on the season to go along with a 5.32 ERA in 15 starts, and did not factor in the outcome of a 4-3 loss at Arizona on May 27. He allowed three runs -- two earned -- in 5 2/3 frames.
The veteran left-hander is 1-3 in eight home outings this season and 10-5 with a 4.58 ERA in 21 career starts against the D-backs.
Milwaukee lost two of three in the desert from May 25-27 and is just 5-9 in the previous 14 matchups between the two clubs.
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