Colorado @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2011 ) Colorado 1, Milwaukee 2
THE STORY: The Milwaukee Brewers reduced their magic number for clinching the National League Central on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies in 11 innings. Milwaukee, which has a 6 1/2-game lead over St. Louis with 13 to play, tries to inch closer to the division title when it hosts Colorado on Wednesday in the finale of their brief two-game series. The Brewers have won two in a row following a five-game skid. The Rockies have dropped three of five.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Colorado), FSN (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Kevin Millwood (2-2, 3.79 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Shaun Marcum (12-6, 3.25 ERA).
Millwood allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday in his first loss since his season debut on Aug. 10. The 36-year-old has not walked a batter over his last two starts and has issued only four free passes in six outings with Colorado. Millwood, who has not faced Milwaukee since Aug. 19, 2003, is 4-3 in 12 career meetings with the Brewers.
Marcum has lost three of his last four starts, including a 5-3 setback against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday in which he surrendered five runs in 6 2/3 innings. He had allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his previous six outings. Marcum has given up three runs over 13 innings in two victories over Colorado this season.
ABOUT THE BREWERS (87-62): Milwaukee continues to play it safe with second baseman Rickie Weeks, who on Tuesday played in his third game since returning from the disabled list. Weeks, who missed 39 games with a sprained ankle, went 1-for-2 with a walk before being replaced after six innings. Yuniesky Betancourt is just 8-for-49 (.163) lifetime against Millwood. The Brewers have won six consecutive home meetings with the Rockies.
ABOUT THE ROCKIES (69-78): The returns of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and first baseman Todd Helton on Tuesday were short-lived. Tulowitzki, who missed Sunday's game with a sore hip, went 0-for-3 before being replaced after 5 1/2 innings. Helton was lifted in the middle of the ninth with tightness in his back. He had sat out six of the previous seven contests. Jason Giambi is likely to start Wednesday as he is 6-for-12 lifetime against Marcum with three home runs and eight RBIs. Colorado returns to Coors Field on Thursday to begin a seven-game homestand before finishing the season with seven on the road.
FINAL PITCH: Francisco Rodriguez will get the call Wednesday should Milwaukee need a closer. Manager Ron Roenicke will use Rodriguez in place of John Axford, who threw 25 pitches in two scoreless innings of Tuesday's triumph.