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Brewers-Cubs Preview

Apr 13, 2010 - 8:13 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Milwaukee (3-4) at Chicago (3-4), 2:20 p.m. EDT

Last week, Randy Wells' strong performance helped the Chicago Cubs avoid getting swept to open the season.

Wells now has the opportunity to lead Chicago to its first series win of 2010 in a matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

The Cubs (3-4) lost 16-5 in their season opener in Atlanta on April 5 and blew a lead in the eighth inning two days later. That left it up to Wells (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to help end the slide, and he did that by scattering six hits over six innings of a 2-0 win Thursday night.

"I went out just trying to make a quality start," Wells said. "It's nice to get off to a good start."

Chicago followed by dropping two of three in Cincinnati but beat the Brewers 9-5 in Monday's home opener.

The team's beleaguered bullpen gave up one hit and one walk over 2 2-3 scoreless innings after posting a 7.27 ERA in the first six games. Chicago's relievers, though, have yet to go back-to-back games without allowing at least two runs.

The Cubs were batting a league-worst .197 and had been limited to 18 runs entering Monday, but they got home runs from Xavier Nady, Jeff Baker and Aramis Ramirez among their season-high 13 hits.

"Hopefully, guys get a little more confidence, and we'll start swinging the bats better," Nady told the team's official Web site.

Chicago could have to continue its turnaround without first baseman Derrek Lee, who is day-to-day after leaving in the fourth inning Monday with inflammation in his right thumb. Subsequent X-rays, however, showed no fracture.

Lee is hitting .364 this season and .469 in his last nine games against the Brewers (3-4).

A poor performance by Wells prevented Chicago from winning its last series against Milwaukee at Wrigley. The right-hander gave up five runs, five hits and five walks in four innings of a 7-4 loss Sept. 17. However, he faced the Brewers five days later and evened his record against them by allowing one run over six innings in a 7-2 victory at Miller Park.

Dave Bush (0-0, 4.76) opposed Wells in both of those games and will do so again Wednesday. Bush had been winless in six starts at Wrigley until that Sept. 17 matchup, allowing four runs in 5 2-3 innings, but he lost to Wells the following week while getting tagged for six runs in 1 1-3 innings.

Bush is 2-8 with a 5.30 ERA in 15 career starts against the Cubs.

The right-hander was in line to win his 2010 debut Friday against St. Louis, leaving with a one-run lead after giving up three runs in 5 2-3 innings, but closer Trevor Hoffman gave up a two-run homer in the ninth for a 5-4 defeat.

It was a tough break for Bush, who struggled to recover from an elbow injury that kept him sidelined for more than two months last season.

"That was nice," Bush told the Brewers' official Web site. "It's been about 10 months since I've been out on the mound and felt like I didn't have anything to hold back on. It's good to feel normally and to pitch the way I know I can pitch."

Ryan Braun could help Bush's cause, considering he is 4 for 9 against Wells and has homered in the last two games while driving in six runs.