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Big seventh inning sparks Bush, Brewers past Pirates

Aug 23, 2008 - 4:15 AM By Dave Cotey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Dave Bush's dramatic turnaround continues.

The righthander won for the sixth time in eight decisions on Friday, tossing seven strong innings as the Milwaukee Brewers posted a 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy and Mike Cameron drove in two runs apiece as the Brewers beat the Pirates for the 10th straight time at home.

"You can't take this club (Pittsburgh) lightly at all," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "We still have eight games with these guys. Good teams keep the pedal to the metal, especially at this time of year, against everybody they play. They're all the same; they're all capable of beating you every single night."

Bush (8-9) moved closer to the .500 mark after starting the season 0-4. Since dropping to 2-7 with a loss to the Minnesota Twins on June 13, he has shown marked improvement, tossing at least seven innings in eight of 11 starts.

"That's exactly what he's been doing the last eight to 10 starts, give up one or two in the first inning and then get into mow-down mode where he gets one right after the other," Yost said. "He did it again tonight. He's really got his season turned around."

In this one, Bush allowed three runs, seven hits and one walk. His two strikeouts, however, were the fewest in his last eight starts.

"I'm throwing more ground balls and definitely pitching better," Bush said. "I'm trying to be a little more relaxed and a little more comfortable with what I know I can do, try not to do to much. It's going out there each time and trying to stay consistent."

The Brewers spotted Bush a 3-2 lead with a three-run fourth inning against Zach Duke (4-12). Hart's two-run double was the big blow, while Bill Hall added a sacrifice fly.

But the offense really came to life three innings later - and when the extra-base hits came, they kept on coming. Rickie Weeks tripled in a run in the seventh, and Hardy and Ryan Braun followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to kick off the offensive onslaught.

Cameron capped the scoring with a two-run homer, his 22nd, as Milwaukee won for the 12th time in 16 games.

"We didn't pitch well," Pirates manager John Russell said. "They got some hits, squeaked a couple down the line, but they swung the bats well."

Hardy belted his second shot in as many games in the fifth, becoming the third shortstop in Brewers history to hit 20 home runs twice.

"We don't miss mistakes when (Duke) is pitching," Hardy said. "That's bad luck for him. There's a lot of other pitchers that we'll miss their mistakes."

Duke lost his eighth straight decision dating back to June 9, allowing four runs and six hits in six innings. He fell to 3-4 lifetime against the Brewers and has not beaten Milwaukee since Sept. 11, 2006.

"The sad thing about this game is it's one of my better outings in this park," Duke said. "They are a good team and they're hungry right now. They can smell the finish line."

Brandon Moss homered for the Pirates, who have lost six of eight and 13 of 19.