(Sports Network) - Runs could be hard to come by in this finale between the
Brewers and hosting Braves given the history of the two starting pitchers.
Atlanta's Brandon Beachy aims to extend his club's home winning streak over
Milwaukee, which pins its hopes this afternoon on Chris Narveson.
Narveson and Beachy have both faced their respective opponents twice in their
careers and have combined to allow just three runs over 24 innings.
Narveson, 30, is 1-0 with a 1.50 earned run average in his two outings against
the Braves, while the 25-year-old Minor does not have a decision in two games
despite allowing one run over 12 innings with 16 strikeouts.
The left-handed Narveson picked up a win in his season debut on Tuesday versus
the Cubs, giving up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks over
five innings of a 7-4 triumph.
"[Narveson] did a nice job of battling," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.
Beachy, meanwhile, was hit with a loss in his first start of 2012. The right-
hander faced the Astros on Monday and was charged with four runs over five
innings, but just one was earned as Atlanta committed four errors in one game,
three by third baseman Juan Francisco.
Behind Beachy, the Braves look to sweep this three-game series with the
Brewers and run their home winning streak against the club to eight games in a
row. Thanks to solid pitching from Mike Minor, Atlanta took Saturday's
encounter by a 2-1 score.
Minor gave up just two hits over a career-high 7 1/3 innings, getting charged
with one unearned run in the eighth inning. Jonny Venters escaped trouble
later in the eighth and Craig Kimbrel got out of a bases-loaded jam in the
ninth to record his fourth save of the year.
"It was a lot of fun just because I got past the fifth inning and helped the
team out, helped the bullpen out," Minor said. "You know we didn't have to use
a lot of guys."
It was Atlanta's 15th victory in its past 21 versus Milwaukee and that
includes a sweep of a four-game set at home last May.
Shaun Marcum was the hard-luck loser as the righty allowed three hits and two
runs while walking a pair and fanning six over seven innings.
"Anytime they're close like that and a hit here or there can win a game for
you, those are always fun games to be a part of," Marcum said after his club's
third straight loss.
Milwaukee is expected to again be without shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who was
placed on the paternity list and traveled to Florida to be with his expecting
wife. Gonzalez is likely to return for Tuesday's home contest with the
Dodgers.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is hoping Chipper Jones can return to the starting lineup
after sitting out the first two game of this series due to swelling around his
surgically repaired left knee. Jones was available to pinch hit on Saturday.
On this the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier
Major League Baseball is commemorating this special occasion by having all
players and on-field personnel once again wear the Hall of Famer's No. 42 in
addition to other pregame festivities.
The Sports Network