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MIL@CHC: Gallardo fans nine over seven frames in win

The Brewers may be out of the playoff picture, but that hasn't stopped right-hander Yovani Gallardo from thoroughly dominating opponents.

On a roll, Gallardo has won his last six starts, pitching at least seven innings in each contest and allowing more than one run only twice in those games.

He'll look to continue that streak on Sunday as the Brewers square off against the Pirates at Miller Park and go for the series sweep.

On Tuesday against the Cubs, Gallardo tossed seven innings, surrendering just one run on three hits for his Major League-leading 22nd quality start.

He also struck out nine, bringing his season total to 172 strikeouts. If he can tally 28 more, it would mark his fourth consecutive 200-strikeout season and put him in some rare company. Coming into the season, only 40 pitchers since 1901 had as many as four straight seasons with 200-plus strikeouts.

"Anything that's not easy to do, it's a good feeling," Gallardo said. "But the wins come first. That's most important."

Right-hander James McDonald will be on the hill for Pittsburgh, trying to follow up his last solid start with another win.

Tossing seven scoreless innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday, the right-hander allowed just two hits, while striking out six for his 12th win of the season.

While McDonald has been inconsistent for much of the second-half, he allowed only two home runs in the month of August after surrendering seven in July.

Pirates: Five come up for stretch run
• Left-handers Jeff Locke and Justin Wilson, who have already been with the Pirates this season, and catcher Eric Fryer were recalled from Indianapolis on Saturday. Two players who had not been on the 40-man roster -- pitcher Chris Leroux and infielder Brock Holt -- were selected from the Triple-A club as well.

The moves are expected to be the first in at least two waves of promotions by the Pirates, with additional moves expected at the end of the Indians' playoff run.

Manager Clint Hurdle is expected to choose Locke to start on Tuesday in PNC Park against the Astros, stepping into the spot vacated by released veteran lefty Erik Bedard.

Brewers: Rogers shut down for rest of season
• Club officials informed right-hander Mark Rogers on Saturday that they were shutting him down after a successful bounce-back season.

A precautionary move to protect Rogers' surgically-repaired right arm, he tossed 25 starts between Triple-A Nashville and Milwaukee to finish the season with a 9-7 record and 4.49 ERA.

Worth noting:
• Brewers outfielder Norichika Aoki didn't start for a second straight game with a stiff neck, sustained in a collision with Nyjer Morgan at Wrigley Field on Thursday, but he was able to pinch-hit in the eighth, singling in his only plate appearance.

• Andrew McCutchen has homered in four of his last five games at Miller Park, and is hitting .500 (14-for-28) in Milwaukee this season.

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