MILWAUKEE — Third base coach Dale Sveum just might have the easiest job on the Milwaukee Brewers' staff.

"It's fun coaching third base for these guys," Sveum said.

And why not, especially when Sveum has Corey Hart on the basepaths.

"He's aggressive, fearless," Sveum said.

In fact, he's so aggressive and so fearless that Sveum has been forced to modify his list of all-time great baserunners to include the right fielder.

"(Paul) Molitor's still No. 1," Sveum recently told Hart. "But you're No. 2. Robin (Yount) is No. 3 now. (Hart's) that good."

The Brewers were what is known as a station-to-station team last year, that grind-it-out baserunning approach of rarely advancing beyond one base on a hit.

Then there were moments duirng spring training when one had to wonder if the Brewers purposely were trying to run themselves out of innings.

But all that work is paying off so far.

Two examples stand out.

The first was when Tony Gwynn scored from second in the first inning of Thursday's loss at Chicago on a play during which Rickie Weeks barreled through catcher Geovany Soto.

Pitcher Ryan Dempster was backing up the play, but Gwynn's surprising turn to home at the urging of Sveum caught Dempster off guard and he couldn't make an accurate throw to Soto.

Hart, who stole two bases in one inning earlier this week against the Cubs, put on another display in Saturday's 5-4 victory over San Francisco at Miller Park, scoring from second on Mike Rivera's dribbler between third and the mound.

Hart rounded third like it was a single to the outfield and never stopped, forcing Giants first baseman Dan Ortmeier into a hurried throw that wasn't even close.

"(I) can't take any credit for that one," Sveum said, noting how Hart never stopped running once third baseman Jose Castillo tried to throw out Rivera at first.

If you don't believe those two examples, then maybe you'll believe it after watching Rivera, not exactly a speed merchant, lumber his way from second to third on Craig Counsell's line out to right in the fifth.

Bench plays a role

Rivera wasn't the only backup to have an impact in Saturday's victory.

Manager Ned Yost had Craig Counsell at shortstop for his first start of the season and Gabe Gross in center, replacing Gwynn (hamstring).

Rivera had a single, double and two RBIs, while Gross added a run-scoring single.

Counsell rebounded from making the Brewers' first error of the season in the second inning with several good plays. Gabe Kapler came off the bench and added a pinch-hit home run in the seventh to give Milwaukee a 5-3 lead.

"I fight it," Yost said of his Saturday lineup. "I want (the regulars) to play every day. But I know I've got guys who need to play."

Kapler likely will start in center today against Giants left-hander Barry Zito. Shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Jason Kendall also will return to the lineup, Yost said.

Gwynn, meanwhile, said he was feeling much better.

But asked if he was feeling better enough to run, he said, "Not that much better."

Around the horn

Weeks saw his consecutive games streak scoring runs  end at 17 Saturday, meaning he shares the National League record with Rogers Hornsby and Ted Kluszewski. … Right-hander Yovani Gallardo is scheduled to make his second rehabilitation start for Class AAA Nashville on Wednesday night. If Gallardo continues to show no signs of ill-effects from the knee surgery he had in February, he is expected to make one more rehab start before rejoining the Brewers. He's a strong candidate to make his first start of the season for Milwaukee on April 19 in Cincinnati. … The Brewers are hitting .389 with runners in scoring position (21-for-54).