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Brewers-Braves Preview

Jun 6, 2009 - 4:06 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Milwaukee (31-23) at Atlanta (26-26), 7:10 p.m. EDT

In their first game since making a trade to upgrade their offense, the Atlanta Braves struggled through their worst night at the plate this season. Starting pitcher Javier Vazquez has seen his share of similar performances lately.

The Braves look to rebound and provide some run support for Vazquez as they continue a three-game home series against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.

Atlanta (26-27) sent three minor leaguers to Pittsburgh to acquire All-Star outfielder Nate McLouth on Wednesday. McLouth came into Friday's game batting .343 over his previous 17 games against Milwaukee, but went 0-for-4 in his Braves debut as Atlanta totaled a season-low two hits in the 4-0 loss at Turner Field.

"It was a little weird," McLouth said. "I kept feeling like I was the visiting team. But that will pass as time goes on."

The Braves have been held to two runs or fewer in six of their last 10 games, going 3-7 overall in that stretch.

"I know we didn't look good swinging the bats," manager Bobby Cox said Friday, adding credit to Milwaukee's pitching.

Cox hopes his club can snap out of its funk behind Vazquez (4-4, 3.58 ERA), who hasn't gotten a lot of help from his lineup lately.

Vazquez has gotten 10 runs of support three times this year and ranks near the top of the league with an average of 6.91. But the right-hander has also gotten three runs of support or fewer in six of his 11 starts, including three of his last four.

Vazquez limited Arizona to two runs - one earned - in 6 1-3 innings of a 3-2, 11-inning loss last Saturday. Atlanta fell to 1-5 when scoring three or fewer runs for him.

"Vazquez was dynamite once again," Cox said. "We just didn't do enough hitting to get more runs after the deuce we put up."

Vazquez is 5-6 with a 5.01 ERA in 14 starts against Milwaukee, which he hasn't faced since 2005.

The Brewers (32-23) got an offensive boost from an unlikely source in Friday's series opener. Rookie Mat Gamel had two hits and drove in three while raising his batting average 27 points to .256.

"I'm finally getting comfortable with my stats," Gamel said. "I'm ready for whatever they want me to do - spot start, pinch-hit or whatever."

Jeff Suppan (3-4, 5.09) will take the mound for the Brewers. The right-hander hasn't lasted more than five innings in any of his last three starts, going 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA.

Suppan fared slightly better his last time out, holding Florida to two runs in a 7-4 loss Monday. But he needed 51 pitches to get through the first two innings and was pulled after 100 pitches through five.

"If I go out thinking I have to pitch seven or eight innings, that would take me out of my focus," Suppan said. "My goal is to go out and make the pitches that I have to make to stay in the game."

Suppan is 2-5 with a 4.65 ERA in seven starts against the Braves. He was 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in three games against them last season.

McLouth is 6 for 17 (.353) with two home runs and three doubles lifetime against Suppan.