Recap: Milwaukee vs. San Diego

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Martin Maldonado crushed a go-ahead three- run homer as part of a four-run sixth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in the finale of a three- game series at Miller Park.

Ryan Braun finished 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and an RBI base hit for the Brewers, who have won four of their last five contests.

Yovani Gallardo (5-5) allowed just two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over seven innings to earn the win. John Axford was brought on in the ninth but allowed three runs in just one-third of an inning. Jose Veras got the final two outs of the game to nail down his first save of the season.

"It was another game that was hard to enjoy at the end," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "But I'm glad we won it."

Will Venable ripped a solo home run and Everth Cabrera added an RBI on a groundout for the Padres, losers in four of their last five games.

Anthony Bass (2-6) gave up four runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Trailing 2-0 after five frames, the Brewers finally got their offense going in the sixth, plating four runs to take their first lead of the game.

Norichika Aoki reached on an infield hit to start the inning, stole second and scored when Braun ripped a base hit up the middle for the first Milwaukee run. Rickie Weeks walked with two down and Maldonado followed with the big blow -- a three-run blast on a hanging curveball that just made it over the center field wall to make it 4-2.

Aoki walked with one out in the Milwaukee seventh and Braun smashed a two-run shot over the wall in left to make it a four-run game.

Axford started the ninth and allowed an RBI single to Chase Headley and walked Carlos Quentin with the bases loaded before being pulled in favor of Veras.

Veras fanned Yonder Alonso looking for the second out, but walked pinch-hitter Jesus Guzman to force home a run. Facing John Baker, Veras caught him looking at a 3-2 curveball to end the game.

"That was a great run there in the ninth, I really thought we were going to do it," remarked Padres manager Bud Black.

San Diego got off to a quick start in its first at-bat when Venable crushed his second leadoff home run of the season over the wall in left-center field.

Alonso started the San Diego second with a single and moved up on a groundout by Maybin. Alonso then advanced to third when Baker reached on an error by Gallardo and scored on a Cabrera groundout for a 2-0 lead.