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Braun, Fielder homer as Brewers sweep Pirates

Sep 3, 2007 - 1:40 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Ryan Braun continued to make his case for the National League Rookie of the Year.

Braun homered and drove in three runs and Prince Fielder added a two-run blast as the Milwaukee Brewers completed a three-game series sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 7-4 victory Sunday afternoon.

Kevin Mench and Bill Hall each drove in a run for the Brewers, who have won four of their last five games after a five-game losing streak. Milwaukee (69-67) is 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs (70-65) in the National League Central.

"Regardless of the Cubs series, it was nice to get the sweep, especially a win at home," Hall said. "It's the last game of the season, every game counts, every pitch counts, and this is all it's about."

"You can't sleep much, you can't hardly wait to get to the stadium, every pitch is electrically charged," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "Everyone is focused, it's a special feeling playing meaningful baseball in September."

The 23-year-old Braun has taken the NL by storm, showing off his prodigious power after getting called up on May 25. Entering Sunday's contest, the third baseman was hitting .325 with 68 RBI in just 87 games.

But a recent slump had Braun worried about his play.

"I am learning to make the right adjustments," Braun said. "Obviously, I wasn't swinging the bat well recently and now learning how to deal with that along with injuries and just getting through the long season."

He belted his 26th homer - a two-run shot - in the fourth to snap a 2-2 tie. With a torrid second half of the season, Braun now is a frontrunner to be named the NL's top rookie - moving ahead of Houston Astros center fielder Hunter Pence and Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Braun, for his part, does not think it has anything to do with his spot in the order.

"I don't think it makes any difference if I am in the three or he (Fielder) is the four," he said. "It's worked out well and we are comfortable were we are at."

With Milwaukee trailing, 1-0, in the first inning, Rickie Weeks was issued a one-out walk by Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny. After J.J. Hardy flied out, Weeks stole second base, setting up Braun's game-tying RBI single.

Ronny Paulino and Cesar Izturis then ripped back-to-back doubles in the second to give the Pirates a 2-1 advantage.

Mench answered back in the third, tying the game at 2-2 with a fielder's choice.

After Braun's blast gave Milwaukee a two-run advantage, Jose Bautista smacked a two-run single to tie the game again.

But Hall gave the Brewers the lead for good in the fifth. Mench was issued a one-out walk and, after he moved to second on Damian Miller's ground ball, Hall plated him with a line drive to right field off Pirates reliever Franquelis Osoria (0-1).

"I was aggressive, got a sinker up in the zone and hit it to right field and got the run in," Hall said.

Miller left the game in the sixth with a right calf strain and was replaced by Johnny Estrada.

Milwaukee then added some insurance in the seventh with a two-out rally. Braun smacked his third hit and Fielder drilled a towering two-run shot - his league-leading 40th of the season - into the right field seats to make it 7-4.

"It's pretty cool," Fielder said. "I am happy they (Brewers) gave me a chance to play here everyday. At first, I was thinking I put the team ahead and then, while in the dugout, I thought about it (40th homer) for a bit."

Jeff Suppan (9-11) tossed five effective innings, allowing four runs - two earned - and nine hits while striking out four without a walk.

"This was a good win," Suppan said. "I pitched the best I could, stood in there the longest I could, and it was great to sweep them for the victory. It's my job to go out there and pitch the best I can. We have some guys that have September experience."

Brian Shouse, Scott Linebrink and Derrick Turnbow each hurled an inning - setting up Francisco Cordero for his 39th save.

Gorzelanny yielded four runs - three earned - and six hits in four frames. He struck out five and walked three for the Pirates, who have lost five in a row.

"I felt fine, couldn't throw any ball where I wanted it to go," Gorzelanny said.