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MILWAUKEE -- For a team that leads the major leagues in stolen bases, the Milwaukee Brewers looked pretty powerful at the plate Monday night.I think we were kind of due for a night like that, manager Craig Counsell said.Martin Maldonado hit a three-run homer and Milwaukee went deep four times, spoiling the major league debut of Arizona pitching prospect Braden Shipley in a 7-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.Maldys home run was the play of the game, for sure. Thats the spot where we got some breathing room, Counsell said. It was a back-breaker for them.Maldonados drive chased Shipley. The backup catcher said he saw multiple curveballs in his first two at-bats and was sitting on a first-pitch curve in the sixth, which he hammered over the left-field fence.Hittings about timing, Maldonado said.Scooter Gennett, Jonathan Villar and pinch-hitter Andy Wilkins also connected for the Brewers in the opener of a four-game series. Chase Anderson went five innings to beat his former team for his first win since June 8.Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the offseason, Anderson (5-10) hadnt made it through five innings in any of his previous five starts. This time, he gave up two runs and seven hits.I had more conviction behind the pitches. I think my focus was where it needed to be, Anderson said.Gennett hit a 437-foot homer to straightaway center field off Shipley (0-1) with one out in the first to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead. The right-hander was selected 15th overall by Arizona in the 2013 amateur draft.Shipley helped his cause when he led off the third with a stand-up double, narrowly missing a home run. He later scored on a single by Jean Segura.Villar put the Brewers back in front with a home run leading off the third. The Diamondbacks pulled even in the fourth on a run-scoring double by Yasmany Tomas.In the fifth, Ryan Braun extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a run-scoring single, putting Milwaukee ahead 3-2.Wilkins followed Maldonados three-run shot in the sixth with his first career home run -- he had been 0 for 9 since getting called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs this month.MAKE ROOMThe Diamondbacks selected the contract of Shipley, rated their top prospect, from Triple-A Reno. RHP Silvino Bracho was optioned to Reno.MOMENT TO REMEMBERWilkins wife and young son were in the stands to share in the celebration of his first round-tripper. As soon as I hit it, I looked up and saw (my wife), so it was awesome, said Wilkins, who has been used almost exclusively as a pinch-hitter. This is an incredible moment and something that my wife and son, we will enjoy it forever.RETURN TO MILWAUKEEJean Segura and Rickie Weeks, once key players for the Brewers, returned to Miller Park as teammates on the Diamondbacks. We knew, when we traded for Jean, the talent that he had, Arizona manager Chip Hale said. Hes just been a godsend for us. Rickie is a veteran with a dangerous bat. Hes been a stabilizer in the clubhouse.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke, on the disabled list since June 29 with a left oblique strain, is likely to pitch a simulated game with the Diamondbacks or a minor league rehab game on Friday, Hale said.Brewers: INF Will Middlebrooks (lower right leg strain) was placed on the 15-day DL. I think were too early to know exactly how long hell be out. Its a pretty significant strain, Counsell said. OF Keon Broxton was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... OF Domingo Santana (right elbow) has been shut down from a rehabilitation assignment at Class A Wisconsin. Its a big setback. I dont have a timetable, Counsell said. Well have to get another doctors opinion and see if that sheds any light on anything.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (4-9, 5.23 ERA) is 2-2 with a 1.80 ERA in his career against Milwaukee.Brewers: Matt Garza (1-4, 5.94) has lost his last four starts while posting an 8.41 ERA. Milwaukee is 1-6 in his outings. Garza is 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) against the Diamondbacks. Ryan Suter Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Zach Parise Wild Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. http://www.authenticwildpro.com/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Custom Minnesota Wild Jerseys .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Greg Pateryn Jersey .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. One team has seen its surprising early success come to a screeching halt. The other has a tenuous hold on the final NFC playoff spot after an up-and-down first half of the season.When the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins meet at FedEx Field on Sunday, a critical NFC playoff tiebreaker could be up for grabs.But the bigger question for both teams: Can they shake off brutal setbacks in recent weeks?The Redskins (4-3-1) were beaten in the final minute three weeks ago in Detroit and followed that game with a baffling 27-27 tie against Cincinnati in London where kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 34-yard kick in overtime.Minnesota, meanwhile, has dropped three games in a row after a 5-0 start. The Vikings (5-3) once looked like the class of the NFC North. But after the Lions also handed them a stunning overtime loss last week -- Minnesota was up by a field goal with 23 seconds to play in regulation -- the recent skid has left them vulnerable.We have to get back to making sure that we execute what were trying to do as opposed to worrying too much about the Redskins, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said. Obviously, you always try to attack the areas that you think you can attack. But for us in this week and where were at, its more about just us executing and doing the things we can do well.The Vikings offense hasnt been very good without star running back Adrian Peterson (torn meniscus, right knee), who has been out since Sept. 18. Minnesota ranks 25th in points scored (19.4), last in yards per play (4.68) and yards per game (298.8) and 31st in rushing yards (72.6).Things havent shaped up the way weve wanted them to, but its only a couple plays away, said Minnesota wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a Maryland native who returns to play in front of friends and family in his home state. We have the guys that hone in on everything that they want to get done each and every day. Its going to shake the way its supposed to.The Vikings could find a tonic in a Washington defense that still struggles to get off the field on third downs (29th overall). The Redskins arent particularly stout on the defensive line and have issues at safety, where veteran Donte Whitner was signed Oct. 5 and is now the primary starter at strong safety.The Redskins have already lost DeAngelo Hall (torn ACL, right knee) for the season and Will Blackmon, his backup, expects to play this week with a cast on his left hand for a broken thumb. Diggs (48 receptions) can expect to see plenty of star cornerback Josh Norman, who has been a magnet for fines and penalties this season, but remains one of the games most physical corners.The key matchup is on the other side of the ball, however. The Redskins are without four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who was suspended for violating the NFLs substance abuse program.dddddddddddd Ty Nsekhe takes over. This summer, Washington general manager Scot McCloughan insisted that Nsekhe, a journeyman who spent several years in the Arena Football League before finally sticking in the NFL at age 29, could start for half the teams in the league.Maybe so.Now 31, Nsekhe, a mammoth presence at 6-foot-8, 350 pounds, started two games for the Redskins last year and held up well enough. But the Vikings defensive front is excellent.Even after three losses in a row they allow the fewest points per game in the league (15.8) and are eighth in rushing yards allowed (93.1).Minnesota will see a Washington offense that ranks 14th in points per game (23.3). But the Redskins are dangerous with weapons all over the field for quarterback Kirk Cousins.Wide receiver DeSean Jackson is nursing a shoulder injury and is listed as doubtful after not practicing all week.Jamison Crowder has 40 catches and has become one of the best slot receivers in the NFL. Tight end Jordan Reed (42 catches) is a matchup nightmare, but veteran tight end Vernon Davis (23 receptions) has been dangerous, too. And the reliable Pierre Garcon (36 catches) is a go-to option for Cousins on third down.The Vikings must win the battle at the line of scrimmage because if Washington figures out its red-zone issues it will score. The Redskins are fourth in yards per game (410.3), but 30th in red-zone percentage (40.63 percent).Part of that is due to Cousins two red-zone interceptions and a fumble by running back Matt Jones inside the 5-yard line in the Detroit game on Oct. 23. But defenses are taking away Cousins options, too.There are times where in the rhythm of the play guys arent going to always be open in the end zone, Cousins said. If teams play max coverages and cover people, maybe everyones not open and thats where I look and say, Can I scramble? Can I make a play off-schedule?The Redskins have protected Cousins well by allowing sacks on only 3.42 percent of pass attempts. But Minnesota defensive ends Everson Griffen has six sacks and Danielle Hunter and Brian Robison have four apiece. Linval Joseph has three and is a big presence at nose tackle that Washington must account for without Williams.You hate to make one game more important than the other but these next two games in general are going to be important, said Redskins coach Jay Gruden, whose team plays Green Bay, another NFC North title contender, at home the following Sunday night. Theyre two home games that are very, very big for us. Were 4-3-1. Were right now currently (the No. 6) seed but were in a position where we dont have a lot of room for error. ' ' '