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Phillies-Brewers Preview

May 15, 2010 - 5:33 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (20-13) at Milwaukee (15-19), 4:10 p.m. EDT

After a tough start to their road trip, the Philadelphia Phillies are ending it with a series at what has become a hospitable venue.

The surging Phillies look to extend the Milwaukee Brewers' home losing streak to seven as they play the middle game of their weekend series Saturday.

Philadelphia (21-13) entered this set following a three-day stretch in Colorado that included postponements due to inclement weather and allegations of sign stealing when its bullpen coach was caught by TV cameras using binoculars.

The Phillies split two games in Denver, then beat the Brewers 9-5 at Miller Park on Friday night.

The Brewers (15-20), who are a major league-worst 4-12 at home, have lost six straight there for the first time since August 2004. Their last seven-game home skid in a single season was from June 20-July 13, 2002.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, has won nine of 12 overall, increasing its NL East lead to 1 1/2 games over surprising Washington.

The Phillies scored nine runs for the second time in three games, getting a two-run homer from Ryan Howard. A two-time All-Star, Howard is hitting .391 (9 for 23) with nine RBIs in his last five games at Milwaukee.

Philadelphia's lineup could get a boost with Carlos Ruiz - a .345 hitter - close to returning. Ruiz, who injured his right knee in a 4-3 loss to Colorado on Wednesday, is day to day.

If Ruiz starts, he'll catch Joe Blanton's third outing of the year. Blanton (0-2, 4.97 ERA) started the season on the disabled list due to a strained oblique.

"I feel pretty close to where I want to be," Blanton said.

The right-hander surrendered three runs in six innings of a 4-1 loss to Atlanta last Saturday. Blanton is 1-1 with a 5.30 ERA in three starts versus the Brewers.

If Philadelphia can make it to the late innings with a lead, it may have closer Brad Lidge available.

Medical tests on Lidge's surgically repaired right elbow showed no structural damage. He's expected to throw prior to Saturday's game, and will likely be available to pitch if he has no discomfort.

Chris Narveson (3-0, 5.06), set to start for Milwaukee, was working out of the bullpen before taking veteran Jeff Suppan's spot in the rotation, and has gone 2-0 with a 3.78 ERA in three starts since then.

The left-hander is coming off his most effective outing, surrendering one run and striking out eight in 5 2-3 innings to earn a win in Milwaukee's 6-1 victory over Arizona on Sunday.

This is his first appearance against a tough Phillies lineup, and Narveson could use some support from Milwaukee's struggling hitters. The Brewers scored three runs or fewer in three straight games before Friday's respectable performance.

"It's just how it is. Unfortunately, it's always the offense that gets blamed," first baseman Prince Fielder said. "I think we have to keep doing what we're doing. ... (On Saturday), hopefully, we get more than they do."

Milwaukee left fielder Ryan Braun went 0 for 4 after missing his previous two games due to a bruised left elbow. Braun had hit .415 with eight RBIs in his previous nine home games against Philadelphia.