Giants at Brewers
The San Francisco Giants' sputtering offense was just getting untracked with a staggering 27 runs in the previous four contests before barely avoiding their seventh shutout this season Tuesday. The Giants face an uphill battle on Wednesday in the third contest of their four-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers when they encounter starter Jimmy Nelson, who has allowed just one run and struck out 21 in his last two outings.
San Francisco's Buster Posey capped his second straight two-hit performance with an RBI single in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 5-2 setback, improving to 13-for-31 with five RBIs and four runs scored during his eight-game hitting streak. The 2012 National League MVP is 2-for-5 in his career with two RBIs in a small sample size versus Nelson, who admitted that he's been at ease on the mound this season. "Just letting everything happen out front mechanically, not trying to overthrow or anything. Just sticking with my game plan that me, Manny (Pina) and (pitching coach Derek Johnson) go over," Nelson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel of his approach. Domingo Santana has recorded a hit in six straight games and 10 of his last 11 for the Brewers, who evened the series with just their third win in their last 17 meetings with the Giants.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Ty Blach (4-2, 3.24 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (3-3, 3.36)
Blach ran his winning streak to four straight starts in impressive fashion on Friday, scattering seven hits without walking a batter over nine innings in a 10-0 rout of Philadelphia. The 26-year-old has worked at least seven innings in five straight outings, lowering his ERA by nearly 2 1/2 runs in the process. Blach, who will be making his first career start versus Milwaukee, has permitted eight runs in his last five trips to the mound after being gashed for 10 in three innings of a 14-2 rout by Cincinnati on May 6.
Nelson became the first Brewers' pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts without issuing a walk in consecutive starts on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 28-year-old answered a 10-strikeout performance in a win over Arizona on May 28 before scattering five hits and fanning a career high-tying 11 in eight innings of a no-decision versus Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. Nelson owns just a 2-1 mark despite yielding seven earned runs in his last six outings overall, but is 1-2 with a 5.50 ERA in three career starts versus San Francisco.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco INF Eduardo Nunez is 5-for-9 with three runs scored in the series and 14-for-35 during his eight-game hitting streak.
2. Milwaukee CF Keon Broxton is hitless in his last three contests and is 4-for-39 in his last 12.
3. The Giants acquired RHP Sam Dyson from Texas for a player to be named later or cash prior to Tuesday's game.