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Suppan, Fielder help Brewers defeat Cubs

Apr 25, 2007 - 5:31 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- This was why the Milwaukee Brewers signed Jeff Suppan to a large contract.

Suppan pitched eight outstanding innings and Prince Fielder hit his third homer in two days as the Brewers posted a 4-1 victory over the red-hot Rich Hill and the struggling Chicago Cubs, who have lost nine of 12 at home.

Kevin Mench had two hits, including a solo homer, and Rickie Weeks added an RBI single for Milwaukee (13-7), which increased its lead to 3 1/2 games in the National League Central Division.

Suppan (3-2), who was signed to a four-year, $42 million dollar contract in the offseason, won his third straight contest, yielding eight hits and a walk while striking out three.

"Suppan has been just outstanding," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "He's pitched five really good ballgames. Tonight he pitched to the ballpark, which shows his intelligence."

The 32-year-old righthander is now 5-4 lifetime vs. Chicago, including 3-2 here.

"I don't think anything past the next pitch," Suppan said. "That's the way I've been able to stay in this league. I try not to worry about what is out of my control. I just try to make sure I make a good pitch on every pitch."

Hill (3-1), who entered with a major league-best 0.41 ERA and 16 consecutive scoreless innings, surrendered four runs, six hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings to suffer his first loss.

"The guy's human," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He wasn't as sharp as he's been. But he still kept us in the ballgame."

Milwaukee closer Francisco Cordero came in with two outs in the ninth for an ineffective Derrick Turnbow to strike out pinch hitter Cliff Floyd and record his eighth save of the season.

In the top of the fourth, J.J. Hardy hit a one-out double before Fielder sent an 0-2 pitch from Hill into the right field seats to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

"That was a bad pitch," Hill said. "I hung a breaking ball. That's what he should do - hit it out."

After also homering twice in a 5-4 Milwaukee win vs. Chicago on Monday, the burly first baseman has seven homers in 12 career games at Wrigley Field.

"I don't feel any different in this ballpark," Fielder said. "He got me down 0-2 real fast. So I was just looking to make hard contact. It was a breaking ball up. I don't know if it was a good pitch or not, but I was able to get some good wood on it."

After Hill recorded two outs in the sixth, Mench hit a 1-0 pitch into the left field basket which surrounds the outfield wall to put the Brewers up, 3-0.

"We were fortunate to get to him (Hill)," Mench said. "He's been the best pitcher in the league so far this year and he wasn't bad tonight."

Weeks added his run-scoring single in the seventh to drive Hill (3-1) from the game.

Derrek Lee and Michael Barrett each had two hits and Mark DeRosa had a run-scoring double in the ninth inning for the Cubs, who have lost three straight to fall six games behind the Brewers in the standings.

"You just keep going, man," Lee said. "You just have to turn the page and come back out there tomorrow. We have a good team here. We just have to find a way to make some things happen."