Brewers Look to Clinch NLDS against the Diamondbacks

The Milwaukee Brewers will look to make the club’s first League Championship Series since 1982 when they take the field in Game 4 of the NLDS tonight in Arizona. The Diamondbacks staved off elimination in Game 3 with an 8-1 victory behind a solid performance from pitcher Josh Collmenter and five RBIs from Paul Goldschmidt.

Milwaukee will send veteran lefty Randy Wolf to the mound, while Arizona will counter with southpaw Joe Saunders. Wolf lost both of his starts this season against the Diamondbacks, as he allowed nine earned runs over 13.1 innings. Saunders had a no-decision in his only start versus the Brewers this season, but he did pitch well while allowing two earned runs over seven innings.

It’s been a tough year away from home for Ron Roenicke’s club, as Milwaukee was the only Playoff team this season to have a losing road record. However if the Diamondbacks do force a deciding Game 5 back at Miller Park, the Brewers did have the best home mark by far in baseball at 57-24. Milwaukee is trying to make its first World Series appearance since 1982, when the Brew Crew was in the American League and lost to the now division-rival St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.

It’s a golden time in Wisconsin sports in 2011. The defending Super Bowl-champion Packers are undefeated this season, the Wisconsin Badgers are 5-0 and the Brewers won their first division title in the National League. Sluggers Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are both MVP candidates after their stellar seasons, and the pitching staff had a solid season led by Zack Greinke, Yovani Gallardo and closer John Axford.