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Fielder, Sheets lead Brewers to blowout win vs. Cubs

Jul 1, 2007 - 12:40 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Prince Fielder and Ben Sheets helped cool down the streaking Chicago Cubs.

Fielder belted two doubles and drove in three runs and Sheets struck out a season-high 11 batters in eight effective innings as the Brewers crushed the Cubs, 13-4, on Saturday.

Ryan Braun had four hits, including a homer, and drove in four runs for Milwaukee, which scored nine times in the first three innings to post its 13th win in 16 games and snap Chicago's seven-game winning streak.

"It was just a day where I was able to see the ball well," Braun said. "I think I took advantage of a couple of mistakes they made. I was able to hit the ball hard today."

The Cubs had cut their deficit to 6 1/2 games behind the Brewers for the top spot in the National League Central after rallying for a 6-5 win on Friday, courtesy of a game-winning two-run homer by Aramis Ramirez.

The Brewers went to work in the first against Cubs starter Sean Marshall (4-3). With two on and nobody out, Hardy blasted a double over the head of center fielder Angel Pagan to plate Corey Hart. Fielder then lined a two-run double into the right-center field gap for a 3-0 lead.

"Yesterday was just one game and those things happen," Fielder said. "We just came out today and played hard. The guys in front of me started it by getting on base."

One out later Johnny Estrada hit a run-scoring single to score Fielder.

After the Cubs cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame on Mike Fontenot's run-scoring triple and a sacrifice fly by Ramirez, the Brewers put the game away in the next two innings.

With two outs in the second, Braun walked ahead of Fielder's double to the center field wall to help Milwaukee regain a three-run lead. Bill Hall and Estrada followed with run-scoring singles to make it 7-2.

The Brewers added two in the third off reliever Scott Eyre when Hardy's RBI triple was followed by a run-scoring single by Braun to open a seven-run advantage.

"The add-on runs we scored today were huge," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "Our offense kept going out there every inning tacking on runs. That is a deflater."

That was more than enough for Sheets (10-3), who allowed four runs and six hits to become the NL's second 10-game winner.

"I did want to go out and give us a good start after yesterday's game," Sheets said. "The real story is that we really hit the ball well today, the guys kept picking me up every time I gave up some runs."

Brad Penny of the Los Angles Dodgers also has 10 victories.

The 24-year old Marshall, who was 4-0 in his five previous June starts, surrendered a season-high seven runs - six earned - and seven hits in just two innings, his shortest outing in 2007.

"I wanted to stay in the game but considering the results, I guess (manager) Lou (Piniella) decided it was best that I come out," Marshall said.

It was the second straight day Milwaukee tagged a young Cubs lefthander. On Friday the Brewers scored five runs in three innings off 27-year old Rich Hill.

"Our lefthanders have had a problem matching up against the Brewers," Piniella said. "Let's not take anything away from Milwaukee. They run out there some pretty good hitters."

Mark DeRosa had a two-run double in the sixth for Chicago, which was going for its first eight-game winning streak since a 12-game run from May 19-June 2, 2001.