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Suppan, Brewers look to end struggles against Reds

Sep 8, 2007 - 1:31 PM Milwaukee (71-69) at Cincinnati (64-77) 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) - If the Milwaukee Brewers fail to make the playoffs they will look back in shame over their struggles against the lowly Cincinnati Reds. The teams continue a three-game series Saturday.

Milwaukee, which is in a tie with Chicago (71-69) for first place in the National League Central, has lost seven of the 10 meetings between the clubs this season. On Friday, Dave Bush failed to make it out of the second inning of an 11-4 loss.

Overall, the Brewers have a tough go of it in the final month. They play 13 of their final 16 games on the road, where they have lost seven of eight and are 26-43.

The Brewers start Jeff Suppan (9-11, 4.75 ERA), who will look to win consecutive starts for only the second time this season. The righthander snapped an 11-game winless streak on Sunday by yielding four runs - two earned - and nine hits in five innings of a 7-4 win over Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, Aaron Harang (14-4, 3.68) will look to bounce back from his first loss in five starts, for Cincinnati, which has won five of the seven meetings here. Harang allowed six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 10-4 loss to New York on Sunday.