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Sheets goes distance; Lincecum pounded again as Brewers top Giants

Jun 20, 2007 - 4:06 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Prince Fielder leads all National League first basemen in All-Star votes. Come October, he might lead in NL MVP voting.

Fielder continued to build his early MVP case by driving in three runs as the Brewers defeated the San Francisco Giants, 6-2, and held Barry Bonds without a home run at Miller Park Tuesday.

Ben Sheets pitched his second complete game of the season and 13th career for Milwaukee, which has won six of seven after losing 13 of 19.

"We've been having fun all year," Sheets said. "It's frustrating when you go through a losing streak, but we played good baseball up until this point. You're not going to go through (a season) without having a down time. The good thing is, it didn't bury us, and we're right back fighting."

Fielder was 1-for-2 with a double and two walks - including one with the bases loaded - and now leads the NL with 26 home runs and 59 RBIs.

"You look at all the power hitters I've watched growing up - Frank Thomas, Mo Vaughn, Adam Dunn, Barry - they all walk a lot," Fielder said. "Pitchers know you'll take the walk and try to throw it a little closer to the plate and they make mistakes. I've seen how they did it, and I try to be like them."

Bonds was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout and remains seven home runs shy of tying Hank Aaron's all-time record of 755 home runs.

Sheets (8-3) allowed two runs and six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. The righthander retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced and only surrendered a two-run home run to Ryan Klesko in the fourth inning while winning his fourth straight game.

"I wouldn't say my stuff was outstanding, but location makes your stuff, even if it's lack-of-stuff, pretty good," Sheets said. "We located the ball well and moved the ball around the plate."

The Brewers veteran was far more effective than his rookie counterpart Tim Lincecum (2-2). The righthander lasted just four innings and allowed six runs on five hits and four walks as the Giants lost for the sixth straight time, including all five games on their current road trip.

"There are a number of things going through my head right now," Lincecum said. "(The losing streak) might be one of them. It's just a matter of me making adjustments, trusting what I've got and being confident."

It was the second rough start for the much-hyped Lincecum, who was tagged for seven runs and seven hits with four walks in just 3 2/3 frames in a defeat against Toronto last Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, this is part of his development," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He'll learn and he'll get better."

After giving up a leadoff single to Corey Hart in the bottom of the first, Lincecum walked three consecutive batters, including Fielder with the bases loaded. Bill Hall and Johnny Estrada followed with sacrifice flies to give the Brewers a 3-0 lead.

"You don't want to ever let him get out of anything by swinging at bad pitches," Fielder said. "It's always good when you have a pitcher on the ropes to keep him on there and wait until he throws a good pitch, or if he doesn't, just keep walking and keep getting runs across home."

Lincecum struck out Rickie Weeks and Sheets to start the second, but Hart started another rally with a single to left. Craig Counsell walked, followed by rookie Ryan Braun's RBI single to center. Fielder then brought home a pair with a line drive double off the right-center field wall.

"When you're facing a good pitcher, you need to stay in the ball game," Bochy said. "We got knocked out early."

The win ensured the Brewers their third consecutive series win after losing eight of nine.

"It was just a matter of time," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "I tried to explain to people we don't get excited when we're really doing well, and we don't get excited when we're not doing well. We stay steady and keep your nose to the task because it's a long year."