Major League Baseball
Brewers-Diamondbacks preview
Major League Baseball

Brewers-Diamondbacks preview

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:57 p.m. ET

PHOENIX -- The Milwaukee Brewers shifted their infield when shortstop Orlando Arcia was recalled from the minors on Tuesday.

So far, so good.

Arcia had his first career hit Friday, and he was just getting started. He reached base on two hits and two walks and scored four times in a 15-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night, evening the series at Chase Field at one game apiece.

Arcia has made four straight starts at shortstop, and it has not seemed to faze former shortstop Jonathan Villar, who has thrived since moving to third base.

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Villar had six hits and three walks in the first two games of the Arizona series, with four hits and two RBIs on Saturday.

Villar, who leads the major leagues with 41 stolen bases, has remained in the leadoff spot and manager Craig Counsell moved Arcia into the No. 2 spot in the order against Patrick Corbin, the first left-handed starter the Brewers faced since right-handed bat Arcia joined them from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

"Jonathan has been a machine, he really has," Counsell said. "He was on base four times last time, five time tonight. That's incredible. He does a heck of a job. And it's a tough at-bat. He lays off tough pitches. It's impressive."

The Brewers will send right-hander Jimmy Nelson (6-10) against right-hander Archie Bradley (4-7) in the third straight rematch of the pitching pairings from the first time these teams met in Milwaukee on July 25-28.

The Brewers won three of four in that series and are seeking their third road series victory of the season on Sunday. The last came the first week of July when they took two of three at Washington.

Milwaukee is 19-34 on the road. Arizona has won four home series and is 18-39 at home.

Bradley gave up one run in seven innings in an 8-1 victory over the Brewers on July 27, when right fielder Yasmany Tomas had two homers and five RBIs off Nelson, who lasted 4 2/3 innings.

Tomas singled in five at-bats Saturday and has four homers against the Brewers in six games this season, hitting .346 with four homers and 10 RBIs. He has hit safely in his last 12 starts, going .388 with three doubles, eight homers and 14 RBIs.

"There are things he is really starting to grasp," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "Pitch selection. He has gotten better and better as the season has gone on. Understanding what the pitchers are trying to do to him. Every at-bat is an adjustment in this league. They are going to make an adjustment to you, and you have to make an adjustment.

"The mistakes he's getting, he is putting them in the seats, which is important. His approach at the plate is much better. When things are going well, he is swinging at the right pitches. We're seeing that more often."

Ryan Braun had two three-run homers Saturday while tying the franchise record with seven RBIs. He has four homers and is 7-for-15 since returning to the lineup in the second game of a series in San Diego on Aug. 2.

"It's such a challenging game," Braun said. "We deal with so much failure, so much adversity. So when you have those rare games that are special, like tonight, you definitely have to appreciate those."

Braun receives a healthy round of boos, usually depending on the extent of damage he has done during the game, every time he is announced at Chase Field. Braun was the National League MVP in 2011 when the Brewers beat Arizona in the NLDS but later was reported to have failed a drug test that season. He was suspended for half a season in 2013 for violating baseball's drug policy.

"It's a non-factor for me," Braun said. "Regardless of the reception, I'm doing my best to compete as hard as I can and do my best."

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