• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Brewers aim to continue hot streak vs. Pirates

Jul 2, 2007 - 1:45 PM Milwaukee (47-34) at Pittsburgh (35-46) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- One of the baseball's hottest teams, the Milwaukee Brewers head to PNC Park on Monday to begin a four-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Brewers were a major league-best 24-10 as of May 9 but won only 10 of their next 30 games to fall to 34-30. However, Milwaukee has rebounded, winning 10 of its last 13 contests despite losing Sunday to establish a National League-best 6 1/2-game lead over the Chicago Cubs (40-40) in the National League Central.

Jeff Suppan (8-7, 4.88 ERA), who made 21 starts for the Pirates in 2003, hopes to continue his success against one of his former teams. He is 9-3 with a 3.90 ERA in 16 career starts against the Pittsburgh, including 2-0 against them this season.

The righthander struck out a season-high seven batters over six innings but did not receive a decision in his last outing, a 6-3 victory in 11 innings over the Houston Astros.

The Pirates will turn to righthander John Van Benschoten (0-2, 4.30), who is seeking his second career win and first since 2004 after spending each of the last two seasons in the minors.

In his last start, the 27-year-old failed to make it into the fifth inning, giving up two runs, three hits and five walks in four innings of a 7-5 win at the Florida Marlins on Wednesday.

The Pirates are coming off a series win over the Washington Nationals despite dropping a 3-2 decision in Sunday's finale. Pittsburgh has won six of its last nine home games.