(Sports Network) - Milwaukee right-hander Yovani Gallardo takes a career-best
eight-game winning streak into the third installment of a four-game series
against the Washington Nationals.
Gallardo is unbeaten in his last 10 starts and hasn't lost since July 26
against the Nationals. In that game, Gallardo gave up seven hits and seven
runs in five innings of an 8-2 defeat.
Gallardo is 3-2 with a 5.06 ERA in seven games (6 starts) when facing the
Nationals.
Milwaukee enters the day 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild card
spot. Meanwhile, the Nationals have a magic number of six to clinch the NL
East.
Chien-Ming Wang gets the starting assignment for Washington. Wang will make
his ninth appearance (fifth start) of the season. He threw 2 1/3 innings of
scoreless relief on Wednesday against the Dodgers.
Yesterday, Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond hit three-run home runs, while Gio
Gonzalez picked up his major-league leading 20th win, as the Nationals ripped
the Brewers, 10-4.
Adam LaRoche homered among his three hits and drove in two for the Nationals,
who recovered from a 4-2 defeat in Friday's series opener to win for the third
time in five games overall.
Gonzalez (20-8) yielded two runs and three hits in seven strong innings to
become the first Washington left-hander to win 20 since Earl Whitehill in
1933. He also fanned five, becoming the first Washington-based pitcher to
strike out 200 batters in a season since Walter Johnson in 1916.
"It doesn't feel like a 20th win for myself. It feels like a 20th win for the
team," Gonzalez admitted. "This is a childhood dream, but to do it with a team
like this, that's in first place, makes it that much better."
The Nats already clinched a playoff berth.
Taylor Green hit a late two-run shot for the Brewers, whose six-game win
streak came to an end.
Wily Peralta (2-1) lasted just 2 2/3 frames, allowing five hits and three
runs, with four walks and as many strikeouts.
Norichika Aoki has a 12-game hitting streak for the Brewers.
Washington is 4-2 this season against Milwaukee.
The Sports Network