Game 135 Recap-
The Milwaukee Brewers used a balanced offensive attack(16 hits) and veteran RH Jeff Suppan(10-7,4.49) was solid, continuing the Milwaukee Brewers dominance of the Pittsburgh Pirates,11-3 Saturday Night at PNC Park in Pennsylvania. RF Corey Hart(3 hits) and CF Mike Cameron homered(4 rbi), while SS JJ Hardy added 4 hits, helping the Pirates lose their 9th straight(57-78). The Brewers are 19-7 in August and have won 7 of 8.
Suppan, who is 5-0 in August and 12-3 for his ex-team(pitched here in 2003), was outstanding and kept the Pirates off balance all game. He allowed 3 hits and 2 runs(2 run homer by LF Brandon Moss in the 6th) while walking and striking out 2. “You always want to contribute, and sometimes regardless if you win or lose, just going out there and throwing quality innings up there gives your team a chance,” Suppan said. “For whatever reason, that’s where the streak has come from.” His manager liked what he saw,”He threw the ball really, really well,” Brewers manager Ned Yost said. “He was changing speeds, spotting the ball well on the attack. He’s throwing good.”Any time you’re going to have success it’s going to be because you got good starting pitching and your defense is good,” Yost added. “It’s always going to be the case.”
Pirates LH Paul Maholm(8-8,3.81) appears to be either hurt(has complained of fatigue/pain) or has hit the wall, in 5 1/3 innings, he gave up 7 hits and 6 runs with 1 walk and 3 Ks. He was touched for 2 home runs(Hart and Cameron) . His Manager, clearly, has his back,”He’s done a phenomenal job all year and you’ve got to figure that at some point he’s going to hit a bump in the road because everyone does,” Pirates manager John Russell said. The young lefty offered no excuses and blamed himself postgame,”When you throw the ball down the middle, I don’t care who you’re playing, it’s not going to get major league hitters out,” Maholm said. “For the first few innings every time I tried to [pitch inside], it was right down the middle. Cameron’s home run was right down the middle. Sure, they’re a good hitting team. But when you throw pathetic pitches, it really doesn’t work.”
Star of the Game-
Brewers team- Tremendous team with lots of homegrown talent, Pirates fans should be happy for long time C Jason Kendall(3 hits)
Pirates Notes-
Club is 1-10 vs the Brewers, 5-24 vs Milwaukee and the Cubs…. Moss led the team with 2 hits… Hardy is batting .455(20-44) vs the Pirates
Next Game-
Sunday, Series conclusion vs Brewers
1:35
RH Jeff Karstens(2-3,3.48) vs Brewers LH CC Sabathia(14-8,2.95)
