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Brewers look to gain ground on NL Central-leading Cubs

Aug 30, 2007 - 2:30 PM Milwaukee (66-66) at Chi Cubs (67-64) 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - For a team that has spent most of the time in first place, the Milwaukee Brewers are finding wins hard to come by lately. They look to change that and close the gap on the division-leading Chicago Cubs when they meet in the rubber game of a three-game series on Thursday.

Milwaukee led the National League Central by as many as 8 1/2 games as late as June 23, but have gone just 23-35 since.

The Brewers halted their five-game losing streak on Wednesday in a 6-1 victory as they welcomed back ace Ben Sheets, who pitched for the first time since July 14 after a stint on the disabled list.

As a result, Milwaukee moved to within 1 1/2 games of first-place Chicago (67-64).

The Brewers will hand the ball to rookie Manny Parra (0-1, 3.09 ERA), who will be making just his second career start and has never faced Chicago.

The lefthander was effective over six innings in his first start, tossing six innings and allowing three runs - one earned - and six hits. However, he did not receive a decision in a 7-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on July 28.

Chicago will turn to fellow southpaw Ted Lilly (13-7, 3.85), who will look to snap a three-game winless streak. He was sharp in a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, yielding two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.

The 31-year-old is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in three career appearances - two starts - against the Brewers.

The Cubs have dropped four of their last six games.