Brewers at Padres
The Milwaukee Brewers look to ride the momentum of an impressive comeback when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the host San Diego Padres on Saturday. The Brewers scored five ninth-inning runs, the final three on Ryan Braun's two-out homer, to record an 8-6 victory on Friday.
Braun drove in five runs in Milwaukee's second straight win over the Padres, but the homer off a high 0-2 pitch from San Diego closer Brad Hand was his first hit in eight at-bats this season. The 34-year-old is trying to get his timing down and was stunned with the result of his ninth-inning at-bat. "I was taking such bad swings, I had a better likelihood of hitting a ball than a strike," Braun told reporters. "I think it was up and out of the zone." Eric Hosmer recorded his first two hits and drove in his first run for the Padres since signing a franchise-record eight-year, $144 million contract in the offseason.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Brent Suter (2017: 3-2, 3.42 ERA) vs. Padres RH Luis Perdomo (2017: 8-11, 4.67)
Suter made 14 of last season's 22 appearances as a starter and finished the campaign with nearly three times more strikeouts (64) than walks (22). The 28-year-old cracked the rotation despite having an up-and-down spring, but he finished on a high note when he allowed one run and struck out seven in five innings against Houston. Suter enjoyed solid success against left-handed hitters last season (.192 average, .282 slugging percentage) but struggled versus right-handers (.287, .422).
Perdomo is beginning his third season as a starter, and the Padres are hoping he will improve upon last season's 1.51 WHIP and .285 batting average against. The 24-year-old served up 17 homers last year, but just five came in 16 starts at Petco Park. Perdomo is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA in four career turns against the Brewers and has struggled with Jonathan Villar (5-for-8) and Hernan Perez (5-for-10, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers CF Lorenzo Cain is 5-for-10 with a stolen base in his first two games with the club he joined as a free agent.
2. San Diego SS Freddy Galvis has recorded back-to-back two-hit performances, going 4-for-9.
3. Milwaukee signed LHP Dan Jennings, optioned 1B Ji-Man Choi to Triple-A Colorado Springs and placed RHP Jimmy Nelson (shoulder) on the 60-day disabled list, with the latter move being made to free up a 40-man roster spot for Jennings.