• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Suppan downs former team in win

Apr 15, 2007 - 5:28 AM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Jeff Suppan started earning his new contract from the Milwaukee Brewers by haunting the team he helped lead to a world championship last season.

Suppan pitched six-plus strong innings against his former team and Rickie Weeks homered as the Brewers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2.

Inked to a four-year, $42 million deal in the offseason to move to a National League Central rival, Suppan (1-2) went 7-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts at Busch Stadium last season. After picking up his World Series ring before the game, he allowed two runs and six hits, walking none and striking out five over 6 1/3 innings.

"On the field I was just focusing on hitting my spots," Suppan said. "I've had the luxury of seeing them for the last three years and I had to go out and just put that all to the side and go out there and pitch my game."

"I thought he pitched great," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "Banging strikes, executing his pitches like we expect him to do, he just pitched a great game. (He had) a good sinker and good ball movement. (He kept) the ball down (and was) moving the ball in and out."

Weeks snapped a 1-1 tie in the fifth as he lined a two-run homer into the Milwaukee bullpen to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead. Milwaukee's leadoff hitter has registered consecutive two-hit and two-RBI games.

"It's still early," Weeks said. "For the most part you just try to find your niche at the plate and just try to stay consistent and try to get there, but I'm feeling pretty good though."

Three relievers logged 1 2/3 scoreless innings before closer Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.

"We were able to put a great game out there and the bullpen just came in and did a fantastic job," Suppan said. "They have a great idea of what their strengths are and they go out and pitch to them."

Kip Wells (1-2) surrendered three runs and five hits with two walks and four strikeouts over seven innings.

"I made some mistakes," Wells said. "Obviously, one of them cost me with the Weeks' home run. More often than not, an outing like this will be sufficient to get us a victory but, (by) the same token, on certain nights you just have to try to limit mistakes that you make."

The Cardinals remain winless at home this season as the offense has scored a total of four runs in four games at Busch Stadium. Most noteworthy among the struggling hitters is Albert Pujols, who saw his average at home dip to .071 after an 0-for-4 night.

"It's too early in the season," Pujols said. "I don't like to make too many complaints about the cold weather but it's just tough playing in this situation. The pitcher has the advantage when it's windy and cold but it's a long season and I know what goes around comes around. I have a lot of faith."