(Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers' September has gotten off to a great start. Losing ground on a playoff spot, the club will try to rebound in the second test of a three-game series tonight versus the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park.

The Brewers were a surprise contender last year, leading the National League Central by a game heading into August. However, a 9-18 month knocked the club out of first and ultimately the Brewers missed out on their first playoff appearance since 1982.

Milwaukee got over the August hump this year, going 20-7 in the month to open up a solid lead in the NL wild-card race while staying within 4 1/2 games of the first-place Cubs in the standings.

The Brewers open September with a 10-game homestand, but are just 2-6 so far on the residency. While that stumble hasn't cost them ground in the NL Central race -- they still trail the Cubs by 4 1/2 games -- the Brewers grip on the wild-card spot is now just three games over Philadelphia. It was 5 1/2 games heading into the month.

Milwaukee lost Monday's opener with Cincinnati in heart-breaking fashion, as closer Salomon Torres blew a two-run ninth-inning lead in his team's 5-4 setback.

Jeff Keppinger's two-run double in the ninth lifted Cincinnati. Wilkin Castillo went 3-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored while Jay Bruce had a pair of hits and two runs scored for the Reds, who have won four of five overall and five of seven this year at Miller Park.

Cincinnati leads the season series between the clubs, 7-6.

Jason Kendall hit a two-run home run while J.J. Hardy added a solo homer for the Brewers, who hope to rebound with Jeff Suppan on the hill tonight.

Suppan is 10-8 with a 4.56 earned run average this season and had won two straight starts and five consecutive decisions for the club before a loss to the Padres on Thursday. The right-hander gave up five runs (4 earned) on seven hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings.

Suppan defeated the Reds on August 6 by holding them to three runs on seven hits over seven frames, and is 4-2 with a 5.21 ERA in 14 career starts against them.

With Josh Fogg battling a groin injury suffered last Thursday versus the Pirates, the Reds will send Ramon Ramirez to the hill.

Fogg suffered the ailment trying to score on a sacrifice fly, meaning Ramirez will make his second start and third appearance of the season. The 25-year-old pitched three perfect innings of relief in Thursday's test against Pittsburgh, fanning two hitters.

Ramirez made his first career start on August 30 against the Giants, with the right-hander getting a no-decision after allowing three runs on five hits over seven innings with six strikeouts.