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Cameron seeks encore to impressive debut

Apr 30, 2008 - 1:27 PM Milwaukee (15-11) at Chicago Cubs (16-10) 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Milwaukee's Mike Cameron woke up a slumping offense in his return from a 25-game suspension. A similar performance from him on Wednesday would pull his club even with the Chicago Cubs atop the National League Central Division.

The Brewers hope to match the Cubs' impressive April when the teams meet in the second game of a three-game set.

On the way to its first winning season in 15 seasons last year, Milwaukee scored 801 runs - the fifth-most in the National League. This season, the Brewers had managed the fifth-fewest runs in the NL.

However, led by Cameron's three hits and two RBI on Tuesday, Milwaukee scored a season high in runs during a 10-7 win. It was Cameron's debut in a Brewers' uniform, after testing positive twice for a banned stimulant while with San Diego.

Jeff Suppan (1-0, 3.48 ERA) hopes to be the beneficiary of another solid offensive effort when he takes the mound. On Thursday, he allowed one run over seven frames in a 3-1 loss to Philadelphia, recording his fourth straight no-decision.

He'll be opposing Cubs starter Ryan Dempster (3-0, 2.90), who served as the team's closer the last three seasons after spending the first seven seasons of his career as a starter with mixed results.

The righthander has lasted at least six frames in four of his first five starts, including Friday's no-decision in which he went seven innings - allowing just two earned and four hits - in a 5-3 loss to Washington.