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Brewers desperate for good start from Vargas vs. Reds

Aug 18, 2007 - 2:04 PM Cincinnati (53-68) at Milwaukee (62-60) 7:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers desperately need a good start out of Claudio Vargas on Saturday if they are going to avoid their season high-tying sixth straight loss.

The Brewers aim to bounce back from an 8-3 setback when they face the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a weekend series on Saturday.

Milwaukee's starters have been a big reason it has fallen out of first place in the National League Central, going 1-10 with a 6.88 ERA over a span where the club has lost 14 of its last 19 games.

On Friday, Jeff Suppan allowed four runs - three earned - and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, but it was the defense that did the damage as it committed four errors in the loss.

The setback, coupled with the win by the Chicago Cubs (62-59), knocked Milwaukee (62-60) into second place in the NL Central for just the second time all season. The Brewers fell into second place on August 2, but regained the lead the next day.

Vargas (9-4, 4.87 ERA), who is winless in his last three starts, will try and make sure Milwaukee does not stay in second place long. On Sunday, the righthander allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, but did not factor into the decision of a 6-4 loss to the Houston Astros.

Elizardo Ramirez (0-0, 0.00) will be recalled from Class AAA Louisville to make the start for Cincinnati, which has won five of the seven meetings between the clubs this season.

Ramirez, who went 3-3 with a 3.75 ERA in 11 starts for Class AAA Louisville, made his lone appearance in relief for the Reds on August 1.