• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Bush, Brewers look to overcome road struggles vs. Reds

Sep 7, 2007 - 1:52 PM Milwaukee (71-68) at Cincinnati (63-77) 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) - The Milwaukee Brewers need to figure out a way to win on the road if they are going to reach the playoffs for the first time in 25 years.

The Brewers open a crucial six-game road trip on Friday with a weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Milwaukee is tied with Chicago (71-68) for first place in the National League Central following the Cubs' late collapse against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Winners in five of their last six games, the Brewers are just 26-42 on the road. To make matters worse, 13 of the team's next 16 games are away from Miller Park.

However, if the offense produces like it did in Wednesday's 14-2 win over the Houston Astros, that may not matter. Prince Fielder's NL-leading 41st home run was one of five that Milwaukee hit en route to setting a season high in runs.

Dave Bush (11-9, 4.83 ERA) takes ball for Milwaukee, which has lost six of the nine meetings between the clubs this season.

Bush has contributed to a Milwaukee rotation that has gone 6-0 in the last nine games. On Saturday, the righthander allowed one run and four hits in six innings of a 12-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bronson Arroyo (7-14, 4.43) takes the hill for Cincinnati, which snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-0 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday. Brandon Phillips set the franchise record for home runs by a second baseman in the win, breaking Hall of Famer Joe Morgan's mark of 27.

Arroyo has had a decent second half, going 4-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 11 starts, compared to 3-9 with a 4.84 ERA in 18 outings before the All-Star break. The righthander beat the Brewers on August 17, allowing three runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings of an 8-3 victory.