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Jun 15, 2009 - 4:16 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Milwaukee (34-28) at Cleveland (28-36), 7:05 p.m. EDT

After a disappointing homestand, the Milwaukee Brewers might look forward to hitting the road.

The NL Central-leading Brewers try to avoid a third straight loss in the opener of a three-game interleague series against the Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

Closer Trevor Hoffman allowed his first run of the season as Milwaukee (34-29) lost 5-4 to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday to conclude a 1-5 homestand. The Brewers were swept by surging Colorado and lost two of three to the White Sox.

"This was a tough homestand," manager Ken Macha told the Brewers' official Web site. "Guys fought hard all the way to the end."

The Brewers have lost six of their last seven, but own a one-half game lead over St. Louis after the Indians (29-36) beat the Cardinals 3-0 on Sunday for their fifth win in seven contests.

Visiting Cleveland for the first time since 2001 before heading to Detroit for three games, Milwaukee is 17-15 on the road. The Brewers have won four in a row overall against Cleveland after sweeping a three-game set at home in 2006.

The Brewers, however, are batting .239 and have a 6.18 ERA while going 1-5 against Minnesota and the White Sox in interleague play this season.

Right fielder Corey Hart, though, is hitting .316 (6 for 19) in those games. Mired in a 2-for-23 slump until Wednesday, Hart hit a pair of solo homers Sunday and is 7 for 16 with six RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

"It's one of those things that comes and goes," Hart said."And right now, I've got it."

Shortstop J.J. Hardy, meanwhile, is hitless in his last 28 at-bats for the Brewers, who batted .226 on the homestand.

Milwaukee isn't sure what type of stuff right-hander Carl Pavano (6-4, 5.40 ERA) will have for Cleveland, one night after Cliff Lee took a no-hitter into the eighth inning Sunday.

Coming off a three-hit, shutout of the White Sox on June 5, Pavano allowed nine runs and 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings of a 9-0 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday. He was 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his previous eight starts prior to the most recent.

"That's the nature of the game," manager Eric Wedge told the Indians' official Web site of Pavano. "It's very fragile."

Facing Milwaukee for the first time since 2005, Pavano is 2-2 with a 4.07 ERA in eight starts versus the Brewers, who counter with Dave Bush (3-3, 4.58).

Despite being struck near the right elbow at Florida on June 4, the right-hander took the mound before allowing three runs and five hits while striking out seven and walking four in five innings of a 4-2 loss to Colorado on Wednesday.

"I had no ill effects from (getting hit) last week," said Bush, who is 0-3 with a 6.65 ERA in his last four starts. "So there was no issue there."

Bush is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts against Cleveland.

Mark DeRosa hit a two-run homer and Kelly Shoppach added a solo shot Sunday for the last-place Indians, who are 3-3 versus the NL this season.

DeRosa, who has a team-leading 11 home runs, is 7 for 15 in his last four contests. He's a lifetime .301 hitter with a homer and 22 RBIs against the Brewers.