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Rangers-Brewers Preview

Jun 12, 2010 - 5:09 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Texas (33-27) at Milwaukee (25-35), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Texas' first trip to Miller Park didn't go too well. However, that venue is starting to become a more pleasant environment for the hometown Milwaukee Brewers.

Trying for a third consecutive victory, the Brewers look to secure their fourth straight winning home series Saturday night against the Rangers.

Corey Hart hit one of Milwaukee's four home runs in a 6-2 win Friday that snapped Texas' three-game winning streak in its first game at Miller Park.

The Brewers (26-35) are 11-17 at home, but have won seven of 10 there since dropping eight in a row.

"We're kind of slowly building momentum," pitcher Dave Bush told the Brewers' official website. "I think there are some positive signs for us moving forward."

The Brewers have won four of five overall. A big reason for that success is Hart, who's 6 for 12 with three of his team-leading 17 home runs in his last four games.

An All-Star in 2008, Hart struggled in spring training and lost his starting right fielder's job at the beginning of the season while falling out of favor with Brewers' fans. He's responded of late, recording 14 home runs and 29 RBIs in his last 26 games. Hart is 5 for 15 with two homers against Texas.

"He's a special hitter," said teammate Casey McGehee, who hit his 10th homer and drove in his team-leading 46th run Friday. "For him to be doing it this consistently is pretty impressive to watch."

Milwaukee starter Chris Narveson was impressive Friday, allowing two runs in seven innings. Manny Parra (1-3, 3.96 ERA) hopes to give the Brewers another strong start Saturday.

Parra, who has a 4.38 ERA without a decision in three starts this season, allowed two runs and struck out 10 - including seven over a two-inning span - in a 4-3, 10-inning win over St. Louis on Sunday.

The left-hander, 3-2 with a 6.38 ERA during interleague play as a starter, will face the AL West-leading Rangers (33-28) for the first time.

He'll try to contain a Texas club that recorded 31 runs and 41 hits in its previous three games, but is expected to rest star Vladimir Guerrero.

Guerrero hit his 14th homer to extend his hitting streak to 10 games Friday. A lifetime .309 hitter in interleague play, the team's primary designated hitter is playing right field this weekend. He's likely to be back in the outfield for Sunday's finale.

"I'm OK with being a part-time outfielder," Guerrero told the Rangers' official website. "I feel healthy, so I'm OK with what I'm doing. I'm not concerned about getting back to being a full-time outfielder."

Josh Hamilton will be in the lineup after singling to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He's 12 for 28 during that stretch, and 11 for 27 all-time versus the Brewers.

Facing Milwaukee for the first time, Scott Feldman (3-6, 5.73) looks to avoid a second straight loss as he takes the ball for the Rangers.

The right-hander, who went 17-8 in 2009, is closing in on that loss total after allowing four runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 4-2 loss to Seattle on Monday.

Feldman is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA in seven interleague starts.