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Suppan sharp, Braun drives in three for streaking Brewers

Aug 24, 2008 - 3:41 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Jeff Suppan and Ryan Braun are finally healthy, and the Milwaukee Brewers certainly need them to keep contributing if they are going to end their 26-year playoff drought.

Suppan pitched well into the eighth inning and Ryan Braun homered and drove in three runs as the Brewers notched a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Prince Fielder drove in two runs for Brewers (75-55), who hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals (72-59) in the National League wild card standings. St. Louis lost to Atlanta earlier in the day.

Milwaukee, which has not been to the postseason since 1982, is 20 games over .500 for the first time in 16 years. Suppan (9-7) and Braun are a big reason why.

Suppan allowed three runs and seven hits with three strikeouts. The veteran righthander, who did not walk a batter, improved to 4-0 with a 3.09 ERA in his last five starts. He has lost just once since recovering from elbow irritation that landed him on the disabled list.

"As a competitor, you go out there and say no, (the ailment) wasn't a factor, but I think it was creeping in there," Suppan said. "It wasn't allowing me to finish on my pitches. For me, movement is very important, and location. I was able to get the rest that I needed and take the necessary steps to come back."

His effort was the latest in a string of solid starts for Milwaukee. Largely due to the addition of CC Sabathia, Brewers starters are 13-5 with a 2.88 ERA over the past 21 games.

"It's easy because everybody's contributing," said Braun, who is fully recovered from a back injury that sidelined him for a week. "Our starting pitching has been unbelievably consistent, as they're going deep into games. A lot of guys are getting on base, and it doesn't put too much pressure on any one or two guys."

Suppan took a 6-2 lead into the eighth but left after allowing a leadoff double by pinch hitter Chris Gomez. Brian Shouse relieved Suppan and recorded a pair of groundouts, including one by Jack Wilson that plated a run.

Salomon Torres tossed a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 30 chances.

Suppan was staked to a 3-0 lead when Braun, who made his second start since missing two games with a tight back, belted a solo homer in the fourth. The 2007 National League Rookie of the Year also delivered a two-run double with two outs in the fifth to make it 5-0.

Braun believes he is getting back to where he was before the injury.

"For me, just knowing that my swing's back to where it needs to be and I'm not tentative anymore is definitely encouraging," he said. "Even (Friday), I felt good."

Braun was buzzed by Tom Gorzelanny two pitches prior to his home run, and that got his attention.

"I know that he didn't do that intentionally, but it certainly wakes me up and intensifies my focus a little bit," Braun said. "Obviously, whenever you get a pitch up and in near the face at 93, 94 miles an hour, you'd probably be focused a little bit more and make sure you're ready for the next pitch."

Fielder, who drove in a run in the first, plated Braun with a single that made it 6-0 and chased Gorzelanny (6-8). Gorzelanny, who posted a 2.06 ERA in seven starts with Class AAA Indianapolis after being demoted on July 5, allowed six runs and seven hits in his return to the rotation.

His downfall was the inability to finish hitters off. Gorzelanny had two strikes on five of the six hitters he faced in the decisive fifth frame.

"He just had trouble putting them away," Pirates manager John Russell said. "I'm encouraged how he got ahead. His first-pitch strikes were pretty good."

"I could take this as 'here we go again,' but I'm not going to do that," Gorzelanny said. "I'm going to continue to work hard and get better and I'll be successful. It was just a couple mistakes."

Adam LaRoche homered for Pittsburgh, while Jack Wilson and Brandon Moss each drove in a run.