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Cardinals take heavy hearts into game vs. Brewers

May 1, 2007 - 3:21 PM St Louis (10-14) at Milwaukee (16-9) 8:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Cardinals are dealing with a terrible tragedy. In the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, they looked distracted.

Mourning the death of pitcher Josh Hancock, the Cardinals will continue their series against the Brewers on Tuesday.

Former Cardinal Jeff Suppan pitched his 16th career complete game and first in nearly four years and Prince Fielder homered and doubled as the Brewers beat the Cardinals, 7-1, on Monday in the opener of a 10-game homestand.

But the Cardinals were clearly affected by the death of Hancock, who was killed early Sunday in a car crash. The Cardinals had Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs postponed because of the tragedy.

"It was tough but I think everybody handled it," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It finally hit me midway though the game that we're playing a little fuzzy right now. We need to sharpen our focus."

Looking to get back on track, St. Louis will pitch Braden Looper (3-1, 1.91 ERA), who allowed one run and three hits - while striking out four and walking two - in seven innings in a 5-2 victory over Cincinnati last Wednesday. He did not figure in the decision.

The righthander is a converted reliever who had not made a major-league start prior to this season. Looper is pitching well in his new role, yielding just four runs in his last 27 frames.

Milwaukee will counter with Ben Sheets (1-2, 4.50), who left his last start at Chicago on Wednesday with a strained groin. However, after being examined, the righthander will be able to go on Tuesday.

In that outing, Sheets allowed four hits in three innings. However, he has not won since his first start of the season, allowing a run and two hits and striking out three without walking a batter in a 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day.