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Braun helps Brewers breakout of slump beat Arizona

Sep 12, 2009 - 6:09 AM PHOENIX(AP) -- Ryan Braun can breathe a little easier now that home run No. 100 is out of the way.

Braun became the second-fastest active player to hit 100 with his two-run shot in the first inning of Milwaukee's 6-3 victory over Arizona on Friday. It was his 29th of the season, his first since Aug. 28.

"It's difficult to hit one home run in this league. To get to 100 is pretty special," said Braun, who has played in 400 major league games since joining the Brewers on May 24, 2007. "It's definitely pretty cool. You have to be pretty consistent. It's nice to get it off my back. I've spent about two weeks trying to get it. It wasn't weighing on me, but when people constantly bring it up, you automatically think about it."

Philadelphia's Ryan Howard hit his 100th home run in his 325th game.

Braun also doubled, driving in three runs as the Brewers broke out of a week-long hitting slump.

Casey McGehee had three hits, singling in the first and third innings and doubling in the fifth as the Brewers took a 5-0 lead for right-hander Braden Looper (12-6), who tied his career high in victories.

Milwaukee (67-73) broke a three-game losing streak and won for the only second time in seven games after scoring 10 runs in its previous six.

The Brewers had 13 hits, their most since getting 16 in an 11-9 victory at Washington on Aug. 22. Every starter, including Looper, had a hit.

"We really haven't been swinging the bats very well. It was nice to get going, especially early," Braun said.

"Hopefully it will be contagious," Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said.

Looper (12-6) gave up three earned runs in 5 2-3 innings for his eighth road victory this season. Looper, who tied his career high in wins, struck out three and walked one. He won 12 games in each of the last two years with St. Louis.

"That was a big one," Looper said. "I was kind of looking forward to it. This is my third year starting, and I've gotten 12 wins every year. Hopefully I'll get a few more chances this year."

Justin Upton hit his 24th homer for Arizona, which has lost seven of its last eight to fall 18 games below .500, tying a season low.

Upton, Mark Reynolds, Gerardo Parra and Brandon Allen each had two hits for Arizona.

Felipe Lopez, traded from Arizona to Milwaukee on July 20, had two hits and an RBI in his first game against his former team. His leadoff double in the first inning was his 1,000th career hit.

Trevor Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth for his 31st save in 34 attempts.

Parra doubled in Chris Young, who walked with two outs in the fourth inning, for the first run off Looper.

Parra's two out-single in the sixth followed a single by Miguel Montero single and knocked out Looper. Allen greeted reliever David Weathers with a ground-rule double to left-center, driving in Montero to make it 6-3. Parra, who would have scored easily, had to hold at third.

Weathers walked Chad Tracy but got Ryan Roberts to ground into a forceout to end the inning.

Davis gave up five runs and 11 hits in three-plus innings, leaving after surrendering one run on four consecutive singles to open the fourth inning.

"They hit some balls hard, and some balls found some holes. It started to unravel on him," Arizona manager A. J. Hinch said. "Three of first four innings, leadoff runners got on, which is kind of a disaster for the rhythm of the game."

NOTES: Arizona left-hander Scott Schoeneweis pitched a scoreless ninth inning, his first appearance since being activated from the disabled list Monday. It was his first outing since Aug. 9. Milwaukee outfielder Mike Cameron returned to the lineup after missing four games with a hamstring strain.