Braves-Brewers Preview

5/28/2008 12:42 AM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

Bill Hall began the Milwaukee Brewers' homestand feeling unfairly singled out.

A return to Miller Park may have been what both sides needed.

Hall and the Brewers continue a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday trying to win their third straight.

Before Milwaukee's 3-2 win over the Braves (28-24) on Tuesday, Hall said he was unhappy the Brewers (25-27) brought up veteran Russell Branyan from Triple-A Nashville to share time with him at third base. The left-handed hitting Branyan often will be used against right-handers instead of Hall, who entered Tuesday batting .158 against righties.

"Obviously, they're not happy with me hitting off righties," he said. "I'm not happy with me hitting off righties. (But) I'm not the only one that's struggling with right-handed pitching - or pitching in general."

Hall came in as a defensive replacement in the ninth on Tuesday and led off the inning with a single. After Rickie Weeks sacrificed him to second, Hall stole third and scored the winning run on Mike Cameron's fly ball to center.

"Who knows? Maybe that's what I needed," said Hall, whose hit came off right-hander Jeff Bennett.

It seems very likely Hall will be back in the starting lineup with Atlanta starting a left-hander in Jo-Jo Reyes (2-2, 5.84 ERA).

Tuesday's win for the Brewers opened a nine-game homestand on a positive note following their 4-6 road trip. With the victory, Milwaukee improved to 12-9 at home this season, compared to 13-18 on the road.

"It doesn't make any sense to me," J.J. Hardy told the Brewers' official Web site. "I can't explain it. I don't know what it is. It could be we're just comfortable playing here."

One Brewers player who certainly appears to be more comfortable at home is Jeff Suppan, who is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three starts at Miller Park. However, Suppan (2-4, 4.47) enters this matchup looking to avoid losing his third consecutive start.

The right-hander is 1-4 with a 5.60 ERA in his last five outings. He allowed five runs - one earned - and three hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-1 loss at Washington on Friday.

Suppan is 0-4 with a 7.78 ERA in four starts against the Braves.

Reyes also has been struggling, giving up 15 runs and 25 hits over his last 16 2-3 innings. He allowed a season-high eight runs in five innings of an 11-1 loss to Arizona on Friday.

In his only start against the Brewers, Reyes yielded four runs - three earned - and four hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 7-4 win last year. He did not receive a decision.

The Braves, who have alternated wins and losses in their last six games, will be without left fielder Matt Diaz. He returned to Atlanta to be evaluated after leaving Tuesday's game in the seventh inning with a left knee strain and a laceration that required stitches.

"He's going to be out a while," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "I don't know exactly the term."