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May 30, 2009 - 5:02 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Cincinnati (26-20) at Milwaukee (27-20), 7:05 p.m. EDT

A lack of production at the plate is adversely affecting the Milwaukee Brewers.

They'll hope to break out on Saturday night when they continue a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Brewers (28-20) managed only three hits on Friday, but two went for home runs in the 3-2 victory - just their second in seven games. Prince Fielder hit a two-run drive in the first inning, and Corey Hart snapped the tie with a solo shot in the seventh.

Milwaukee has scored just 15 times and is hitting only .195 with four homers during a 2-5 stretch. That's dropped the team batting average to .246, leaving them among the worst in the NL.

Part of the reason for the Brewers' woes could be due to the absence of leadoff hitter Rickie Weekes, who was lost for the season on May 17 after suffering a left wrist injury swinging a bat in a win over St. Louis. The second baseman appeared to be having a breakout season, hitting .272 with nine homers and 24 RBIs.

"There's no doubt we're going to miss Rickie over the course of the summer," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said after claiming the club isn't looking to deal for a second baseman. "(But) we're not going to sit here and say that every week because there's nothing you can do about it."

While the Brewers are looking to rediscover their stride at the plate, they hope Dave Bush (3-1, 3.92 ERA) can avoid his second straight loss.

The right-hander, who has reached double-digits in defeats each of the last four seasons, gave up four runs and five hits - including two homers - in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-3 defeat at Minnesota on Sunday. He had been 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA in his previous six starts, all Milwaukee wins.

Bush is 2-3 with a 6.54 ERA in 10 career starts against Cincinnati, going 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA in two outings last year at Miller Park.

Cincinnati (26-21) could be without Joey Votto after he exited in the second inning Friday. The power-hitting first baseman has left three straight games immediately after flights due to complications from an inner ear infection.

Votto ranks among the NL leaders with a .357 batting average, but is hitting only .250 (4 for 16) over the last seven games. He's still managed to connect for three homers and drive in six.

The Reds' Aaron Harang (5-4, 3.36) looks to match his win total from last year while earning a victory in a third consecutive start for the first time since Sept. 19-29, 2006.

A two-time 16-game winner, the right-hander was 6-17 with a 4.78 ERA in 30 games - 29 starts - last season.

Harang kept working during a rain delay of more than two hours, and got the final out of the fifth inning of Monday's 8-5 win over Houston.

"I think I threw a complete game with all the work I did inside," Harang said.

Harang hasn't fared too well in four road starts, going 1-2 with a 4.10 ERA. However, he's been solid throughout his career in Milwaukee, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.55 ERA in seven starts.