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Braun, Brewers aim to end home skid vs. Reds

Aug 17, 2007 - 2:21 PM Cincinnati (52-68) at Milwaukee (62-59) 8:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers have been playing so poorly of late, they are struggling to win at home.

Braun and the Brewers look to get back on track in the opener of a three-game series with the last-place Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

Milwaukee (62-59), which owns the National League's best home mark at 39-23, has lost 13 of its last 18 games - as well as a season-high four straight at home - after being swept here by St. Louis.

Adam Wainwright threw seven scoreless innings and Yadier Molina homered twice in an 8-0 victory on Thursday. With the win, St. Louis (58-60) moved with 2 1/2 games of first place in the National League Central.

Meanwhile Braun, the leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, has gone hitless in back-to-back games for the first time since May. However, there is a good chance he will break out on Thursday, as he is hitting .533 (8-for-15) with two homers against the Reds this season.

Jeff Suppan (8-9, 4.90 ERA) takes the hill and will try and help the Brewers maintain their slim one-half game lead over the Chicago Cubs (61-59). Suppan, who is winless in his last nine starts, yielded four runs in 5 2/3 innings but did not factor into the decision in an 11-4 loss to Houston on Saturday.

Bronson Arroyo (5-13, 4.63) takes the mound for Cincinnati, which has won seven of 11 and took two of three from Chicago earlier this week. Arroyo was rocked for five runs in six innings of a 10-4 loss to San Diego on Sunday.