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Braun, Brewers welcome Mets to Milwaukee

Jun 7, 2011 - 2:59 PM (Sports Network) - Ryan Braun is in the running for a starting spot on the National League All-Star roster. With the way he's been playing at home, the Milwaukee Brewers left fielder may actually land that role.

Braun will lead his Brewers into the opener of a three-game series with the New York Mets tonight and has been on fire in Brew City this season. He owns a .356 batting average and a .696 slugging percentage to go along with eight homers and 29 RBI in 28 games at Miller Park. Braun helped the Brewers complete a four-game sweep of the Florida Marlins by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored in Monday's 7-2 victory.

Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI, while starting pitcher Zack Greinke improved to 5-1 with seven innings of two-run ball and six strikeouts. Tim Dillard and Sergio Mitre closed the door with a scoreless inning of relief apiece.

"I just try to go deep in every game and try to give the bullpen some rest," said Greinke. "We were able to get some runs tonight and it was a nice win."

The Brewers are just 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the NL Central lead and have won 18 of their last 23 games. They are 21-7 as the host and will also welcome the Cardinals to town for three games on the residency.

Taking the hill for Milwaukee tonight will be Shaun Marcum. Marcum is 0-1 in his last two starts since going 6-0 in nine trips to the hill, and previously pitched in Wednesday's 4-3 loss at Cincinnati. He allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings that day with seven strikeouts and no walks. The right-hander has never faced the Mets and is 3-1 in five home starts.

New York took two of three meetings from Atlanta over the weekend and has won five of its last eight games, including Sunday's 6-4 win in the series finale. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey was solid in his eight innings on the hill, allowing one run and four hits with three strikeouts for the victory.

Jose Reyes ended with two hits, two runs scored and drove in a run, while Carlos Beltran knocked in a run before fouling a Tim Hudson pitch off the inside of his right leg. Beltran is listed as day-to-day for the Mets, who are kicking off a 10-game road trip Monday against the Brewers, Pirates and Braves.

"Hopefully, he's going to be good in the next couple of days," Reyes said of Beltran on the club's site. "Hopefully he'll be in the lineup and walking."

Reyes has hit safely in 10 consecutive games and has scored at least one run in nine straight games, matching a personal best from June 17-June 25, 2006.

Mets starter Chris Capuano will take the mound against a Brewers club he is very familiar with. Capuano spent the previous five seasons with the Brewers and did not play in 2008 and 2009 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He is 3-6 with a 5.19 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) with the Mets and is 0-2 in his previous three trips to the mound.

Capuano was in last in action during a 9-3 setback versus Pittsburgh on Wednesday and allowed five runs and eight hits over six innings. The left- hander has never faced Milwaukee.

Milwaukee and New York are meeting for the first time since the Brewers won five of seven matchups a year ago.