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Marlins-Brewers Preview

May 11, 2009 - 8:04 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Florida (17-15) at Milwaukee (18-14), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers lost their first four series of the season but haven't dropped one since. Manny Parra's recent progress is one reason why.

Parra aims for his third consecutive strong outing Tuesday night when the Brewers open a three-game series with the visiting Florida Marlins.

Milwaukee (18-14) lost two of three in each of its first four series, but the Brewers have won five of their last seven series and split the other two to move into second place in the NL Central.

Milwaukee already had its weekend home series with the Chicago Cubs won before Sunday's finale. Jeff Suppan delivered the team's eighth quality start in its last 12 games, but the Brewers left the bases loaded in the eighth and committed two errors as they failed to complete the sweep in a 4-2 loss.

"You kind of get spoiled," second baseman Rickie Weeks, who hit his seventh homer, told the team's official Web site. "It was one of those days, I guess. This is one game today that we kind of let go."

For the most part, Milwaukee has been clicking lately - both at the plate and on the mound. The Brewers are averaging 5.5 runs over their last 19 games, highlighted by the combined nine homers, 37 RBIs and .487 on-base percentage in that span from Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder.

More importantly, Milwaukee is getting better starting pitching. The Brewers' rotation was 3-5 with a 5.54 ERA in its first 12 starts, but is 7-5 with a 3.47 ERA since.

Parra (1-4, 4.88) lost his first four starts while posting a 6.52 ERA, but has a 2.25 ERA in three May outings. The left-hander picked up his first win Wednesday at Cincinnati, allowing two runs and eight hits over six innings of a 15-3 victory.

"He did so well (in his previous start) against Arizona, using his fastball, changeup, and split," Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said. "He did use his curveball tonight and threw some for strikes. It's getting ahead, staying in the zone, and using his offspeed. I thought it was a big outing for him."

Parra gave up two runs over 5 1-3 innings in his only career start against Florida, a 3-2 home loss April 27, 2008.

The Marlins (17-15) had dropped six of seven and 13 of 17 before heading to Colorado over the weekend, but won the series' first two games. They couldn't complete the sweep, though, losing Sunday's finale 3-2.

"You feel lucky you won two out of three," manager Fredi Gonzalez told the Marlins' official Web site. "We had good pitching, they had good pitching, and we just got some hits here and there."

Florida got wins from its starters Friday and Saturday after going 20 games without a victory from its rotation, and Chris Volstad pitched effectively Sunday in defeat.

In this game, the Marlins will turn to a journeyman who hasn't started in the majors since 2007 with Texas. John Koronka (0-0, 0.00) will be called up to fill the rotation spot vacated by Anibal Sanchez, who will miss two months with a sprained right shoulder.

Koronka was 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 10 appearances - four starts - this season with Triple-A New Orleans. The left-hander started 23 games with the Rangers in 2006, and has a 6.02 lifetime ERA over 28 starts in parts of three major-league seasons.