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Brewers-Diamondbacks Preview

Sep 12, 2009 - 6:38 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Milwaukee (66-73) at Arizona (62-79), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks entered their three-game series with slumping offenses.

Both teams took a step toward solving those hitting woes in the opener, but it's the Brewers that are seeking back-to-back victories for the first time this month Saturday night in Arizona.

Before Friday night, Milwaukee had batted .195 and averaged 2.6 runs in nine games this month, and Arizona was hitting .226 and scoring 3.2 runs per game. Both teams had gotten off to 2-7 starts in September.

The Brewers broke out with six runs and 11 hits in the first five innings of a 6-3 victory, but the Diamondbacks had six hits in the final four innings to finish with 11 - their most since Aug. 28.

Milwaukee (67-73) had 13 hits, including Ryan Braun's 100th career home run, for its best output since recording 16 in an 11-9 victory at Washington on Aug. 22. Every starter had a hit, including winning pitcher Braden Looper.

"We really haven't been swinging the bats very well. It was nice to get going, especially early," said Braun, who also doubled and drove in three runs.

Right-hander Dave Bush (3-7, 3.19 ERA) will try to benefit and earn his first win since May 19 for the Brewers. Bush's seven-game losing streak is tied for the longest active streak in the majors with teammate Carlos Villanueva and Philadelphia's Brad Lidge.

He is also trying to avoid dropping his fifth consecutive start after suffering a hard-luck loss in Monday's 3-0 defeat to St. Louis. Bush allowed two runs over seven innings, but Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter pitched a one-hitter.

He was tagged for 13 runs in eight innings in his two starts after ending a two-month stint on the disabled for right arm fatigue Aug. 27.

"Being more comfortable mentally helps," Bush told the Brewers' official Web site. "It's been a difficult process to get back to the way I want to feel on the mound."

Losers in seven of eight, the Diamondbacks (62-80) will give right-hander Kevin Mulvey his first major league start.

Mulvey (0-0, 3.00), who was acquired from Minnesota on Sept. 1 for reliever Jon Rauch, will pitch in his fifth career game. He has allowed one run over three innings for the Diamondbacks but is expected to take over Yusmeiro Petit's spot in the rotation for the rest of the season.

"I'm excited to see him," manager A.J. Hinch told Arizona's official Web site. "We traded for him for a reason. He's going to get a real opportunity here to break through and compete for a rotation spot."

Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder will look to make franchise history against Mulvey and the Diamondbacks. Fielder will try to break the Brewers' single-season RBI record and he's at a major league-best 125, one shy of Cecil Cooper's mark set in 1983.

Milwaukee hasn't earned consecutive victories since a five-game win streak Aug. 27-31. The Brewers will also try for their 14th win in 20 games against the Diamondbacks dating back to the start of the 2007 season.