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Bush, Braun lead Brewers past Rockies

Jul 10, 2008 - 10:25 PM By David Cotey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Dave Bush pitched as if he wants to stay in the Milwaukee Brewers' rotation.

Bush struck out a career-high 13 batters over eight innings as the Brewers trounced the Colorado Rockies, 11-1, and earned a split of the four-game series Thursday at Miller Park.

Bush (5-8) was aided by a six-run, fourth inning that featured a two-run single by Ryan Braun and a two-run triple by Prince Fielder.

With All-Star Ben Sheets, Jeff Suppan and Manny Parra locked into the rotation along with recently acquired CC Sabathia, either Bush or fellow righthander Seth McClung appear destined for the bullpen sometime after the All-Star break when Suppan returns from the disabled list.

"I don't know what they're going to do," Bush said. "When you have an addition like CC, I guess that gives you a nice problem to have as the manager. After the break, that stuff is beyond my control, if I'll pitch in the rotation or the bullpen. I don't think about it.

"When it's my turn to pitch, if it's every fifth day or out of the bullpen, I'll do that. That's a decision (Brewers manager) Ned (Yost) is paid to make, not me."

Bush did his part to keep his current job by winning for the third time in four decisions. He allowed a run on Clint Barmes' RBI single in the first inning, but retired the next nine batters he faced and 23 of 24 before Jayson Nix's double with two outs in the eighth.

"That's the most (strikeouts) I've had at any level, they are few and far between," Bush said. "It's definitely something I'll enjoy, but it doesn't mean a whole lot beyond that."

The righthander gave up just three hits, walked none and pitched past the sixth inning for the fourth time in five starts.

"He threw a great game," Yost said. "He commanded his pitches, and when you command your pitches, you'll throw the ball good. And that's what he did. That's as good as it gets. He did not make any mistakes."

J.J. Hardy and Corey Hart, who won the NL All-Star Game Final Vote on Thursday, homered for the Brewers, who won for the seventh time in 10 games and improved to a National League-best 21-9 against lefthanded starting pitchers.

"You go out there and want to do so well, but it's kind of hard because you put extra pressure on yourself," Hart said of the four-day voting process. "Obviously to hit the home run was nice, kind of like the monkey off my back."

Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa (3-5), a former Brewer, allowed seven runs and nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings. Five of the six runs he allowed in the fourth came after two were out.

"I try to be the same the whole game, but then something happened," De La Rosa said. "I left a lot of pitches up."

Matt Holliday singled to extend his hitting streak to 14 games for the Rockies, who lost for just the third time in 10 games.

"Their guy had impeccable command," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of Bush. "He just kept throwing strikes. He handled us."