• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Pirates-Brewers Preview

Aug 30, 2009 - 4:11 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (53-73) at Milwaukee (62-66), 2:05 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers are enjoying a run of dominance at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates that has lasted more than two years. They may need another big offensive effort to finally get Jeff Suppan another win.

With Suppan seeking his first victory in more than two months, the Brewers look to extend a 20-game home winning streak versus the Pirates in the finale of a three-game series Sunday.

Milwaukee's run at Miller Park against Pittsburgh (53-74) is the longest home winning streak by one major league club over another since Cleveland won 27 straight against Baltimore from 1954-56.

"It's unbelievable. ... Every time they come here, we win," Brewers reliever Claudio Vargas said. "It's fun because 20 games straight is real impressive."

This is the Pirates' last chance this year to end the skid.

"Absolutely, there's a sense of urgency," Pittsburgh second baseman Delwyn Young said. "You play every day to win, so we're just trying to win."

The Pirates, though, need to find a way to stop the Brewers' lineup. Milwaukee is hitting .300 and averaging 6.7 runs during its streak against Pittsburgh.

Even Jody Gerut, who had been hitless in 17 at-bats against the Pirates this season, came through in the clutch in this series' middle game, doubling to drive in the go-ahead run as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning as the Brewers (63-66) won 7-3 on Saturday night.

Suppan (5-8, 5.38 ERA) is in desperate need of run support as he tries to settle down after returning from the disabled list. After missing nearly a month with a strained left oblique, gave up four runs, nine hits and walked five in 4 1-3 innings as Milwaukee lost 8-6 in 12 innings to Cincinnati on Tuesday night.

The veteran right-hander and onetime Pirate is 0-4 with a 7.02 ERA in his last eight starts. He hasn't won since June 12, against the Chicago White Sox. The Brewers have not been productive at the plate in Suppan's starts, scoring two runs or fewer for him in five of his last seven outings.

In his last nine starts against Pittsburgh, however, Suppan has gotten an average of 8.6 runs to work with while going 6-0 despite a 5.48 ERA. He's 13-3 with a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts all-time against the Pirates, for whom he went 10-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 21 starts during 2003.

Pittsburgh will counter with Ross Ohlendorf (11-8, 4.10), who is 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA in his last seven starts. The right-hander was in line for a win Tuesday, but didn't receive a decision in a 6-4 victory over Philadelphia after giving up two runs and striking out six in 6 1-3 innings.

Ohlendorf has posted a 2.25 ERA while winning his two career starts versus the Brewers.

Due to a quick turnaround between games, Ryan Doumit is expected to be Ohlendorf's batterymate even though he was benched in the fifth inning of Friday night's 8-6 loss and didn't start Saturday. Pirates manager John Russell has declined to discuss why he benched Doumit, who has eight homers this season after hitting a career-high 15 in 2008.