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Pirates-Brewers Preview

Aug 29, 2009 - 4:53 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (53-72) at Milwaukee (61-66), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Milwaukee Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo has been outstanding against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even if the right-hander falters his next time out, he's likely to get a good amount of support.

With their top starter taking the mound, the Brewers and their power-laden lineup look to extend a 19-game home winning streak against the Pirates on Saturday night.

Gallardo (12-10, 3.51 ERA), who has flourished this season after a torn ACL limited him to four starts in 2008, is 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA in six starts versus the Pirates (53-73).

The right-hander earned a win at Washington on Monday, giving up one run while striking out eight in five innings as Milwaukee (62-66) won 7-1.

Gallardo has given up three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts and has posted a 2.21 ERA in winning his last three outings at home, where Milwaukee has dominated Pittsburgh.

The Brewers haven't lost to the Pirates at Miller Park since May 3, 2007, hitting .293 while averaging 6.4 runs during their streak.

Milwaukee's lineup certainly came up big in the opener of this three-game series. Manny Parra gave up six runs but still earned a win in the Brewers' 8-6 victory Friday night.

"We have a good offense, that's what it means," Parra said. "That's pitching with the offense that we've got."

Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Jason Bourgeois homered for Milwaukee.

Fielder has 36 homers and a major league-leading 118 RBIs. The first baseman is hitting .366 with six homers and 22 RBIs during the Brewers' streak at home versus the Pirates.

Braun, meanwhile, has two homers and seven RBIs in his last seven games. He has six homers and 17 RBIs in 16 contests at home against Pittsburgh.

The Brewers will next face Kevin Hart (4-3, 4.14), who is 1-2 with a 6.04 ERA in four starts since the Pirates acquired him in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on July 30. The right-hander allowed three runs in five innings of Pittsburgh's 4-1 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday.

Hart is 1-0 with a 4.61 ERA in one start and five relief appearances against the Brewers.

Pittsburgh has given Hart one run to work with in his two losses since joining the team. The Pirates' lineup, though, was productive Friday after scoring a combined four runs in its previous two games.

Pittsburgh rookie Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 5 and drove in four runs. He missed a chance to hit for the cycle when reliever Todd Coffey struck him out in the eighth.

Three Milwaukee relievers combined to pitch three scoreless innings after the Brewers' bullpen gave up nine runs in 17 innings over its previous three games.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 28th save, raising his all-time record total to 582.

Hoffman was placed on waivers and claimed by another team, but Brewers general manger said he hasn't had trade discussions. Milwaukee can deal Hoffman, assign him to the team that claimed him for no compensation or pull him back off waivers.

The 41-year-old right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA, converting 28 of 30 save opportunities.