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Brewers' Narveson takes ball in Washington

Apr 15, 2011 - 2:56 PM (Sports Network) - With 12 victories last year, Chris Narveson showed the Brewers a glimpse of the kind of pitcher he can be.

Two starts into the 2010 season and the former second-round pick looks like a 20-game winner.

Narveson aims to extend his season-opening 13-scoreless innings streak this evening when Milwaukee visits the Washington Nationals for the opener of a three-game set.

The 29-year-old Narveson appeared in 37 games with 28 starts last year for the Brewers, going 12-9 with an unattractive 4.99 earned run average. He appears to have turned a corner in 2011, shutting down the Braves and Cubs in succession while allowing nine hits over his 13 innings.

Narveson did not factor into the decision of his April 4 debut despite holding Atlanta to three hits and three walks over six innings. He was rewarded with a win last time out versus the Cubs, though, working around six hits and a walk in seven innings. His nine strikeouts were also one off his personal best.

"When (Narveson) got into trouble he threw the ball great," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "His changeup was down and out of the zone and his breaking ball was good. He also had good break on his fastball."

The southpaw may struggle keeping his scoreless inning streak alive tonight seeing as he is 1-0 with a 5.59 ERA in three games outings versus Washington, including one start.

Milwaukee picked up its fourth straight victory and seventh in eight games on Thursday with a 4-1 triumph over Pittsburgh to sweep a rain-shortened set. Randy Wolf gave up just three hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out 10.

"I think it goes back to that cutter, I had later action today -- and I was able to put it into the zone where it's a little bit above the belt, where it's hard for a hitter to get to," Wolf said.

Yuniesky Betancourt, Prince Fielder and Nyjer Morgan each had an RBI for the Brewers, while Fielder drove in his MLB-leading 15th run of the season.

Fielder is hitting .372 on the season, but is just 6-for-27 lifetime versus Nationals starter Tom Gorzelanny with three RBI and zero homers.

Gorzelanny gets the call for the Nationals after losing his debut with the club on April 9. The lefty was charged with six runs -- five earned -- on four hits and two walks through 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight, but Washington manager Jim Riggleman didn't seem concerned about his fifth starter afterwards.

"I thought he did a good job and gave us a chance. He kept us in the game throughout," said Riggleman.

A former Pirate and Cubs hurler, the 28-year-old Gorzelanny is 4-3 with a 4.82 ERA in 14 career outings against the Brewers with 10 starts.

He'll try to help the Nationals avoid a third straight loss after they were shut out, 4-0, last night by the Phillies and Cliff Lee, who gave up just three hits in going the distance.

Jordan Zimmermann held serve with Lee at the onset, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning before serving up a home run to Philadelphia's Carlos Ruiz.

"I just made that one mistake to Ruiz," Zimmermann said. "That was pretty much the game."

Zimmermann ended up allowing four runs -- one earned -- over seven-plus innings.

Milwaukee has won four straight and nine of its last 12 versus Washington.