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Streaking Brewers try to gain ground atop NL Central

Sep 10, 2007 - 1:58 PM Milwaukee (73-69) at Pittsburgh (63-80) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers bring their playoff hopes to Pittsburgh on Monday when they open a three-game series with the Pirates.

The Brewers, who are 6-2 in September, hold a slim one-game lead over the Chicago Cubs (72-70) in the National League Central Division.

Milwaukee routed the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 in the series finale on Sunday, and became the third team in major league history to lead off the game with three consecutive home runs as Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and rookie Ryan Braun all homered off starter Phil Dumatrait.

Braun, who had his third multi-home run game of the season on Sunday, has 30 home runs on the season which is a new franchise rookie record, previously held by Prince Fielder, who hit 28 in 2006.

Carlos Villanueva (7-3, 4.47 ERA) will continue to campaign for a permanent spot in the rotation when he takes the mound for the Brewers on Monday.

Villanueva, who has been starting in place of the injured Claudio Vargas and Manny Parra, was outstanding in his first scheduled start of the season. The 23-year-old righthander allowed just one run and five hits while striking out a career-high six batters over six innings en route to a 5-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

In his one other start this season, Villanueva made a spot-start for Chris Capuano and posted similar numbers - one run and five hits over five innings. Villanueva did not factor in the decision as the Brewers went on to win the game, 3-2, against the Detroit Tigers on June 13.

Tony Armas (3-5, 6.49) will look for back-to-back wins when he toes the rubber for the Pirates. Armas had one of his best starts of the year on Wednesday, surrendering only two runs and five hits while striking out five as Pittsburgh rolled to an 8-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.