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Braun, Hart have Brewers back on track

May 23, 2008 - 2:40 PM Milwaukee (22-25) at Washington (20-28) 7:35 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - Ryan Braun and Corey Hart have the Milwaukee Brewers poised to claim their third victory in their last four games on Friday when they open a four-game series against the Washington Nationals.

Despite dropping the finale of a three-game series, 8-4, to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, Braun collected his seventh hit in his last four games while Corey Hart stroked his third home run in the last six contests.

Braun is now hitting .296 this season and has raised his batting average 39 points since May 8.

Hart homered just once in his first 40 games this season before his recent power surge and is pleased with the team's recent play.

"It's nice for anybody to get going," he said. "I always felt like I'm going to get them. I've been feeling pretty decent at the plate."

Jeff Suppan (2-3, 4.78 ERA) looks to help the Brewers bounce back when he takes the mound on Friday.

Suppan allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings, walking two while striking out one, suffering his third loss in the last four starts during Saturday's 5-3 setback to the Boston Red Sox.

Nationals' lefthander Odalis Perez (1-4, 4.34 ERA) opposes Milwaukee after giving up six runs and 11 hits in five innings while walking two and striking out three during Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.