Brewers look to get offense going again after quiet game in opener against San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - The Brewers will try to reignite their offense Tuesday night after a very quiet series opener against the Giants on Monday evening.

The Brewers collected only four hits -- all singles -- in losing, 2-0, to the last-place Giants in the opener. They had no hits after the fourth inning as four San Francisco pitchers combined for only the team's second shutout of the season and first at home.

For whatever reason, the Brewers do not play well at AT&T Park. They are 4-15 in their last 19 games by the bay and need to stop that trend immediately to keep some momentum for the playoff race.

The Brewers will send right-hander Jimmy Nelson (9-6, 3.74) to the mound and the Giants are countering with veteran righty Jeff Samardzija (8-12, 4.79). Samardzija beat the Brewers on June 5 in Milwaukee, 7-2, allowing one earned run over 7 2/3 innings while logging 10 strikeouts.

Entering play Tuesday, the second-place Brewers are 2 1/2 games behind Chicago in the NL Central and 3 1/2 games behind Arizona for the league's second wild-card spot.