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Sabathia keeps streaking Brewers on a roll

Aug 14, 2008 - 6:00 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- CC Sabathia dominated another National League team and the Milwaukee Brewers provided more than enough run support in an easy 7-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in the second of a three-game set on Wednesday.

Prince Fielder homered for the second time in as many nights as the Brewers cruised to their eighth straight win and 13th victory in 15 road games.

Sabathia (7-0) remained unbeaten since being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Indians last month, pitching seven strong innings and allowing one run as he picked up his career-best 10th consecutive victory. The 28-year-old lefthander struck out eight and issued one walk.

"I feel like I'm pitching pretty good," Sabathia said. "I'm just trying to go out there and help this team win in any way possible. Scoring runs definitely helps you relax and go out there and do the job."

David Riske contributed a scoreless eighth and Guillermo Mota worked around a walk in the ninth to secure the win for Milwaukee.

"Today was a grind for (Sabathia)," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "But, he got through it, made pitches when he needed to, and stayed right on it."

Fielder led off a three-run second inning for the Brewers with a solo shot against San Diego starter Josh Banks. Jason Kendall and Sabathia each had an RBI as Milwaukee built a 3-0 advantage, which would be all the offense Sabathia and the two relievers would need.

"Any time you get a lead like that for a pitcher, it allows them the freedom to know they can make a mistake and get away with it," Yost said. "Any time you give a pitcher like CC that comfort level, you're in pretty good shape."

San Diego got a run back in the fourth when Chase Headley doubled and scored on a groundout by Nick Hundley to cut the lead to 3-1.

"We just couldn't break through," Padres manager Bud Black said. "(Sabathia) made some pitches. We couldn't break through, and they did. That was sort of the difference in the game."

Corey Hart's three-run triple was the big blow in the fifth as Milwaukee added four more runs to extend the lead to 7-1.

"Having guys on base is always exciting, because you can make things happen," Hart said. "(Sabathia) has been everything we thought he would be. When he's out there, we know things are going to go well. He's pitching as well as anybody in the National League right now."

Three consecutive singles in the fifth set up a promising scoring chance for the Padres, but Sabathia squelched the threat by retiring the next three batters in order.

"I'm just trying to make pitches when I need to," Sabathia said. "I don't really have room for error there, and I'm just trying to get us out of the inning. It worked out."

Banks (3-5) lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits. The rookie righthander struck out one and walked a season-high six batters.

"Banks, which is atypical of him, was the walks," Black said. "They came back to haunt him, because we did outhit them. It's atypical of where we've seen him when he's pitched well."