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Bush, Brewers too much for Twins

Jun 17, 2007 - 3:44 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Dave Bush earned a win for the first time in more than a month and the Milwaukee Brewers won their fourth game in a row with a 5-2 decision over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

Bush (4-6) allowed two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings to earn his first win since May 8 against Washington. Bush was 0-3 in his last six starts, but allowed two or fewer earned runs on a Saturday for the third time since his last win.

Milwaukee clinched the three-game series against Minnesota with the victory and will go for the sweep on Sunday.

"He's had some good starts," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "But this was a really good start for me because he commanded the ball so much better. His command was off a bit in his last couple starts and kind of got away with it."

Corey Hart broke open what had been a pitchers' duel in the seventh inning, hitting the first offering of the night from reliever Matt Guerrier to left field for a two-run single. The runs were charged to Twins starter Boof Bonser (5-3), who took the loss for the second time in his last three starts.

"Corey Hart, that was a huge hit," Yost said. "You look at (Guerrier's) numbers and they are phenomenal. Corey stepped right up."

Bonser retired seven straight to start the game - four by strikeout - before Milwaukee got the scoring started. The Brewers got back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases in the third inning before J.J. Hardy brought home Damian Miller with a ground ball to third.

After a fourth-inning walk, Bonser retired seven in a row again before Prince Fielder and Bill Hall hit back-to-back two-out doubles in the sixth to score Milwaukee's second run.

"Bonser's got good stuff," Brewers outfielder Bill Hall said. "We just went out there and grinded him out tonight. A lot of guys had great at-bats against him and kind of wore him down."

Bush managed to dodge trouble early, stranding three baserunners through the first three innings before retiring the side in order in the fourth.

Minnesota manufactured a run in the fifth inning, as Bush hit Lew Ford with a pitch, Nick Punto doubled to shallow left field, and Jason Bartlett grounded to shortstop to drive in Ford. But he escaped further damage in the fifth and pitched around a pair of singles to start the sixth inning, ultimately stranding both baserunners.

"That was the biggest inning for me," Bush said of the sixth. "The first two guys got on with the middle of the lineup coming up. That was my chance to get myself a win and keep us ahead."

Bush was chased by a one-out single from Bartlett in the seventh, and Joe Mauer hit a towering fly ball off reliever Mike Wise for a triple as the Brewers lead was cut to 4-2.

Minnesota got more help in the top of the eighth, when Bill Hall was called out by Luis Castillo at home plate with no outs on Geoff Jenkins' chopper. Replays showed that Hall slid past Mauer and touched the plate with his left hand an instant before Mauer applied the tag. Yost argued with umpire Phil Cuzzi briefly, but to no avail.

The Brewers did add a run later in the inning, as Castillo threw wildly to first base on a double-play attempt, allowing Johnny Estrada to score from third base.

Derrick Turnbow pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Milwaukee, and Francisco Cordero converting his Major League-leading 25th save in the ninth.

Miller scored a pair of runs for the Brewers, while Hall went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double, a stolen base and an RBI.

Bartlett singled, stole a base, scored and drove in a run for the Twins, who have lost four of their last five series.

"Guys are trying," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "In the dugout guys are fired up. It's just not working right now. It's all about consistency. We're all looking for that, to be more consistent instead of being a streaky team."