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Gallardo strikes out seven over solid 6 2/3

A year after winning their respective divisions, the Brewers and D-backs are both looking up at first place with the All-Star break approaching.

The two clubs have split the first two of a three-game series in Milwaukee. In Sunday's finale, the Brewers will send Yovani Gallardo to the hill opposite the D-backs' Josh Collmenter.

Gallardo, a 26-year-old righty, has enjoyed an unusual level of success against the D-backs. In six regular-season starts against them, he is 6-0 with a 1.21 ERA, averaging 6.2 strikeouts an appearance. One of those victories came May 25, when Gallardo surrendered a single run over 7 1/3 innings.

"He's pitched good against us," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said in May. "You've got to play well. You've got to hold tight and make the most of your opportunities."

Gallardo (6-6) also pitched two games against Arizona in last year's National League Division Series won by the Brewers. He earned a win for his efforts in Game 1, when he struck out nine hitters and allowed one run in eight innings of work. The right-hander also started Game 5, for which he earned a no-decision after giving up one run in six innings.

Against Milwaukee, Collmenter (0-2) is no slouch, either. In three career regular-season games, including two starts, Collmenter is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA against the Brewers. He pitched well in Game 3 of the NLDS last year, allowing just one run over seven innings.

Arizona's 26-year-old righty only recently re-entered the starting rotation, replacing starter Daniel Hudson, who suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. Collmenter started the season in the rotation but was sent to the bullpen after posting an 8.46 ERA in five starts.

"He's thrown great since we put him as the long guy," Gibson said. "He has good experience in Milwaukee."

D-backs: Hill a player to watch out for
• Second baseman Aaron Hill made national news Friday after hitting for his second cycle of the year. However, he followed up that performance by going 1-for-4 with a strikeout and a throwing error Saturday. He'll bring a .301 average, 38 RBIs and 11 home runs into Sunday's series finale.

• The D-backs are 13-1 in their last 14 series-ending games.

Brewers: Braun's numbers top 2011 pace
• Through 72 games this year, left fielder Ryan Braun has put together numbers that compare favorably to his production at the same point last season, when he won the NL MVP Award. In 2011, Braun had a .311 average, 15 home runs, 51 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in that span. This season, he's hitting .313 with 22 homers, 55 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

• After slugging four home runs, including two by Braun, in Saturday's 10-2 win, the Brewers have 93 homers this season, second most in the NL.

Worth noting
• Milwaukee finished June with a 12-14 record, while Arizona went 16-10.

• The D-backs lead the season series against the Brewers, 3-2. After Sunday, the two teams won't play again in the regular season.

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