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Suppan, Brewers halt Rockies

Jun 8, 2008 - 11:54 PM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Adhering to a Midwestern work ethic, the Milwaukee Brewers ended a two-game slump with a workman's grit and grind. It was a welcome change after enduring back-to-back flashy losses.

Slow and deliberate, Milwaukee manufactured a handful of runs without flair or fanfare and held the Colorado Rockies' bats in check for a 3-2 victory Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.

Though the Rockies threatened in the final innings, the Brewers escaped with the victory after losing on a late home run and an early grand slam in the first two games of this three-game set.

"We were doing everything we could to salvage this series," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said.

Jeff Suppan worked into the sixth inning for the Brewers (33-30), scattering four hits and tossing a seventh consecutive quality start dating to April. He picked up the win to improve his record to 4-4.

"That's what you call a team win right there. It was a nail-biter to the end," said Suppan, who added that he didn't have much in the tank while on the mound. "I just went with what I had. That's pitching. ... I was just trying to keep the ball down, but it was a tough battle for me."

Salomon Torres pitched the final two innings and picked up his seventh save of the season.

"Coming in I was already thinking that maybe the eighth inning was going to be mine, and the ninth, too," Torres said. "I already set it up in my mind that I was going to face six or seven hitters. To be able to go and do what I did today was a confidence booster."

"I told him to be ready for a six-out save," Yost said. "He was a two-inning guy for us before, so going two innings didn't bother me at all. I could have brought him back in the 10th."

Gabe Kapler and Ryan Braun finished with two singles and an RBI apiece and Corey Hart had a double among his two hits. Prince Fielder added two late hits and Joe Dillon, using his speed on the basepaths, scored two runs and doubled.

Rockies top starter Jeff Francis struggled as usual in the first inning, walking two and giving up two runs on three hits. The lefty has allowed 16 earned runs in the 13 first innings he has pitched this season.

Salomon Torres pitched the final two innings and picked up his seventh save of the season.

By the time he escaped the second inning, Francis (2-6) had thrown 53 pitches, struggling to find the zone and trailing, 3-0. He left in the sixth inning after surrendering seven hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

"It was a struggle for him," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "But eventually he was making pitches, he held them to three runs and pitched out of some traffic. He gave us an opportunity to win. ... Our pitching staff, including Francis, helped keep us in the game with all those zeroes they put up on the scoreboard."

Colorado (24-39) had a prime opportunity to steal the game in the seventh inning. Down a run with the bases loaded and one out, Todd Helton stepped to the plate only to strike out with the bat on his shoulder. Reliever Carlos Villanueva then forced Garrett Atkins into a harmless groundout, stranding the three Colorado runners.

In the eighth inning, the Rockies put the go-ahead runner on base with one out, but Torres worked through the threat.

For Colorado, Chris Iannetta finished with a hit, RBI and run scored, and Francis drove in his team's first run with a single in the second inning.

"We missed opportunities on the bases, you know. We left 10 men on base," Hurdle said.