Not long ago, Corey Hart was the favorite target of disgruntled Brewers fans.
After winning an arbitration hearing that gave Hart a $4.8 million salary for 2010, the right-fielder scuffled through spring training, was on the bench for Opening Day and saw Jim Edmonds getting a bulk of the playing time.
Next thing you know, Hart -- after bashing his second home run of the game Saturday and third in three at-bats -- was taking a curtain call.
"I've had some critics out there," Hart said. "It's nice going from not playing every day to being able to go out there and produce."
Along with a .260 batting average, Hart leads the team -- and National League -- with 12 home runs, equaling his total from last season. On the recent home stand, he was 6-for-25 and has hits in seven of his last eight games.
"He's the kind of guy that when he gets going, he's the kind of player that can carry a team for an extended period of time, not just a day or two," said third baseman Casey McGehee. "He's certainly shown that the last day or two. When he's going well, he's a game-changer."
Manager Ken Macha likes the added power Hart's resurgence brings to the lineup.
"The more guys you can stack in there, it makes it tougher for them to pitch around people," Macha said.
Different look: Hart's hot bat also played a big role in Macha's decision to shake up the lineup over the weekend.
Ryan Braun was moved up to the No. 2 spot in the order, with Prince Fielder, McGehee and Hart following in the 3-5 spots.
"If we score first, we've got a high percentage of wins," said Macha. "The goal is to get runners on base early. In the first inning, they're going to have to face Prince and Brauny. That gives us a chance to score early. I just want those guys to get on base."
Counting on Gallardo: The Brewers shut down ace Yovani Gallardo late last season after the young right-hander struggled with pitch counts all season.
Once again this year, Gallardo's numbers (5-2, 2.78 earned run average) are diminished by the number of walks he's issued and the number of pitches he's thrown.
Currently, he's averaging 108.2 pitches per game and is third in the National League with 1,196 pitches thrown. Both are respectable numbers, but, aside from Friday's complete game against the Mets, Gallardo has worked past the sixth inning just two other times and has three starts that went just five innings.
He threw 121 pitches in the 1-0 victory Friday, the third time this month that Gallardo passed the 120-pitch mark. He threw 121 in a seven-inning outing at San Diego and 120 in six against Cincinnati.
Macha isn't concerned about Gallardo's pitches yet and had no intention of pulling him prior to the ninth inning Friday.
"If I'd have taken him out of the game, there were probably 31,000 people here that would have had me on the rail, tarred and feathered," Macha said. "The 120 pitches, that was over nine innings, instead of being like seven. Those other ones were shorter."
Welcome back: Chris Capuano will make his first start since 2008 Thursday, when he takes the place of Manny Parra against Florida.
Capuano has been working his way back from a second "Tommy John" surgery and performed well during a series of minor league rehabilitation assignments, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.59 earned run average in seven starts between Class A Brevard County and Class AAA Nashville. He struck out 33, walked just four and held batters to a .209 average.
His last outing came on Friday, when he was removed after four innings.
"When they took me out of the game in the fourth inning, I had a pretty good idea I would be called up," Capuano said. "It feels good to be back."
Macha decided to put Capuano -- an 18-game winner in 2005 -- into the rotation after Parra went four and three innings, respectively, in his two starts this season.
Ax man: For the time being, Macha plans to use John Axford to handle closing duties.
The 27-year-old picked up his first victory of the year Thursday against Houston and recorded his second save with a perfect ninth inning Saturday.
With a fastball that clocks in around the mid-90s, Axford is a rare hard-thrower on the Brewers' pitching staff.
"He certainly has the stuff, there's no doubt about that," said Macha.
Axford's emergence begs the question of what to do with Trevor Hoffman.
The veteran closer has been effective of late, pitching outside of his regular ninth inning, since taking a few days off to tinker with his mechanics. He's pitched three consecutive scoreless outings.
"I'm not eliminating Trevor," said Macha of all-time saves leader Hoffman. "I want to give him a few more innings, but it's going to be nice if we have coverage like that."
Hoffman, who remains four saves shy of 600 for his career, is 5 for 10 in save opportunities this season. After blowing his fifth save of the year, he was taken out of the ninth inning role to work with pitching coach Rick Peterson.
When asked about the situation, Hoffman was diplomatic.
"I'm not getting into that," he said.
On the road again: Outfielder Adam Stern might rival a beat reporter when it comes to frequent flier miles by season's end.
Stern has been called up and sent down three times this month and by his count, has traveled approximately 2,200 miles in May.
"The flights are a lot better coming here than they are going away from here," Stern said. "It's a lot better when you're coming up to the big leagues. On the way out it's a little bit worse."
He hit the road again Monday, returning to Nashville so Jim Edmonds could return to the roster after a stint on the disabled list.
Quick hits: The Brewers have made 10 roster moves in the month of May. Stern was involved in six of those moves ... The Brewers won consecutive games in walk-off fashion Thursday and Friday for the first time since June 17-18, 2006 vs. Cleveland ... Gallardo was the Brewers' first complete game shutout since Ben Sheets shut out San Diego on Sept 6, 2008, and the first complete game since Gallardo's on April 24, 2009, at Houston ... Rickie Weeks has 15 career leadoff home runs ... Dave Bush was used twice as a pinch-runner during the homestand ... Jonathan Lucroy went 2-for-4 Sunday, his first career multi-hit game ... The Brewers have been outscored, 36-17, in the sixth inning this season.
Injury report: OF Jody Gerut was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore heel ... David Riske picked up his second win for Triple-A Nashville on Saturday night, giving up two unearned runs with one strikeout in two innings ... RHP Josh Butler, recalled from a rehabilitation assignment, was sent to Class AA Huntsville where he threw four shutout innings on Sunday.
On the farm: Three members of the Class A Brevard County Manatees were named to the Florida State League All Star Game; infielder Matt Cline, who is hitting .336, outfielder Erik Komatsu (.316, 21 RBI) and infielder Sergio Miranda (.314, 33 RBI).
He said it: "I haven't started my car in about three weeks, so who knows if that'll start." -- OF Adam Stern, who because of Nashville's road schedule and several call-ups, has only been home for two days this month.
This week: The Brewers get the week started with a loss against the Marlins in Miami; the first of a four-game series. After that, it's off to St. Louis for a weekend series against the division rival Cardinals.
