Brewers at Diamondbacks
The Milwaukee Brewers turned it on late in the series opener and maintained their hold on the second wild-card spot in the National League. Milwaukee attempts to make it four wins in a row on Friday, when it visits the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second contest of their four-game set.
Orlando Arcia drove in one run and scored another during a three-run eighth inning on Thursday as the Brewers posted a 5-1 victory to remain one-half game ahead of both St. Louis and Philadelphia for the second wild card. Ryan Braun opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the second frame and ended it with a solo homer in the ninth for Milwaukee, which has outscored its opponents 23-6 during its winning streak. Arizona managed only one run and seven hits after registering 28 and 31 in a two-game sweep at Texas as it suffered its third loss in five contests to fall 1 1/2 games behind Milwaukee. All-Star Ketel Marte, who recorded a pair of singles, has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 contests while Adam Jones has gone 7-for-14 over his last three games.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-9, 5.18 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Taylor Clarke (2-3, 6.21)
Chacin has pitched well since returning from a strained lower back in mid-June, allowing fewer than three runs in four of his five starts, but worked more than five innings just once and has gone 0-2 in that span. The 31-year-old Venezuelan settled for a no-decision against San Francisco on Sunday after giving up two runs - one earned - and four hits in five frames. Chacin has made 18 starts and one relief appearance versus Arizona in his career, going 6-4 with a 3.17 ERA.
Clarke is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list, where he has been since July 3 due to lower back inflammation, and make his 10th start of the season - and his career. The 26-year-old rookie from Virginia exited his outing against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on July 2 with the injury after yielding three runs on five hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings. Clarke, who never has faced Milwaukee, has posted a 6.92 ERA in three starts at home as opposed to a 5.90 mark in six turns and one relief appearance on the road.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers RF Christian Yelich is riding an eight-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games.
2. Milwaukee LHP Gio Gonzalez (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the injured list and start Saturday's contest.
3. Arizona activated 2B Wilmer Flores (foot) from the 10-day IL and optioned 1B Kevin Cron to Triple-A Reno.