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McGehee hits 2 homers, drives in 6 in Brewers' win

Sep 13, 2009 - 6:55 AM PHOENIX(AP) -- Milwaukee third baseman Casey McGehee is not sure he has the pedigree to be the NL Rookie of the Year. His numbers say otherwise.

McGehee homered twice and drove in a career-high six runs while going 4 for 5 in the Brewers' 9-2 victory over Arizona on Saturday.

"That award is for guys who are highly touted throughout their minor league career and stuff like that, not guys who were let go and put on waivers," said McGehee, claimed off waivers from the Cubs late last October. "It sounds cliche, but it's the furthest thing from my mind. I'm just trying to help this team finish up strong."

McGehee leads major league rookies with 57 RBIs after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning, a run-scoring single in the fifth and a three-run homer in the sixth. He also singled in the eighth.

His 15 homers are second among rookies to Pittsburgh's Garrett Jones, and his .306 batting average is tied with Florida's Chris Coghlan for first.

"Obviously, if it was to happen, I would be surprised and excited and all that stuff," said McGehee, who did not play regularly until late May. "I am definitely not expecting it by any stretch of the imagination. If you get that as a goal, you kind of miss that boat. It is so far out of your control."

Milwaukee's David Bush (4-7) struck out a season-high 11 and won for the first time since May 19, breaking a nine-game drought in which he was 0-7 with a 9.21 ERA.

"It was nice to have David Bush back," manager Ken Macha said.

Bush gave up one run on five hits and didn't walk a batter in seven innings, improving to 5-1 in seven career starts against Arizona. He got to only two three-ball counts.

"It was mostly throwing strikes and being unpredictable. That's what I have to do," Bush said.

Mike Cameron had three of the Brewers' 16 hits, 11 against rookie right-hander Kevin Mulvey (0-1), who was making his first major league start in his fifth career appearance.

Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Frank Catalanotto had two hits apiece. Braun has 101 runs, the second NL player to reach 100. He trails only St. Louis' Albert Pujols, who leads the majors with 117.

Milwaukee won its second straight game after losing five of six, when the Brewers scored a total of 10 runs. The Brewers have 15 runs and 29 hits in the first two games of this series.

Arizona, which has lost eight of nine, was eliminated from postseason contention with the loss.

The Diamondbacks (62-81) fell 19 games below .500 and 23 games behind NL West leader Los Angeles, both season lows. They have won one of their last eight series.

"We're going to have to have some patience and get through this run," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said. "The way the games have gone, certainly the last few days but even deeper into that, is really frustrating."

Bush did not give up a run until Stephen Drew tripled with one out in the sixth inning and scored on Gerardo Parra's sacrifice fly. Chris Young singled in a run in the ninth.

Parra led NL rookies with 53 RBIs entering the game but was passed by McGehee. Parra has 54.

Mulvey, obtained in a waiver deal with Minnesota on Sept. 1, gave up hits to five of the first batters he faced. He gave up one run in the first inning, two in the second, two more in the third and one in the fifth. He struck out two and didn't issue a walk.

NOTES: Milwaukee LHP Manny Parra was scratched from a scheduled Sunday start after waking up Saturday with neck stiffness, Macha said. Parra threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday. Left-hander Chris Narveson, 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 16 relief appearances this season, will start instead. Narveson, 27, has made one previous career start, with St. Louis on Sept. 22, 2006. ... J. J. Hardy started at shortstop for the Brewers in place of rookie Alcides Escobar, who likely will be back in the lineup Sunday, Macha said. Escobar, recalled from Triple-A Nashville when Hardy was optioned on Aug. 12, is hitting .600 (9 for 15) against left-handers this season and .163 (8 for 49) against righties. ... Arizona named Mike Bell minor league field coordinator, a post vacant since Jack Howell was promoted to major league hitting coach when Hinch took over as manager on May 8.