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Sabathia earns first NL win as Brewers top Rockies

Jul 9, 2008 - 4:14 AM By Nick Berenz PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers unveiled the prize acquisition they hope will lead them to their first postseason appearance in 26 years on Tuesday night.

Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia took the mound in front of a sellout crowd of 42,533 and Ryan Braun hit his team-leading 22nd home run to lead the Brewers to a 7-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park.

After coming out to a standing ovation and chants of "Let's go, C.C." before the opening pitch, Sabathia (1-0) got off to a shaky start, issuing two of his five walks in the first inning. The lefthander lasted six frames, however, giving up three runs - two earned - and five hits while striking out five.

"I had a bunch of emotions running through my head," Sabathia said. "I wouldn't say I was nervous, more excited and amped up, and when I get like that, I tend to throw too many balls."

The Brewers' first two batters reached base against Rockies starter Mark Redman (2-4) in the first and Braun quickly gave Milwaukee a 3-0 lead with a 430-foot homer.

"There was so much energy out there, it was important for us to get ahead early," Braun said. "It kind of felt like Opening Day. It was a lot of fun for us."

Colorado got on the board with an unearned run in the fourth and got within 4-3 in the sixth on Yorvit Torrealba's two-run double down the right field line.

"To get (Sabathia) out of the game after six with the lead under his belt was a great start for him," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "With all the hoopla and everybody watching, it definitely added more to the game than we're accustomed to in the middle of the season."

In the seventh, the Brewers loaded the bases against Matt Herges. Corey Hart, one of five National League players vying for the 32nd spot on the All-Star roster, drew a two-out walk to bring home Joe Dillon.

Bill Hall followed with a two-run single off Jason Grilli to give the Brewers a 7-3 lead.

David Riske, Eric Gagne and Brian Shouse combined for three scoreless innings to close out Sabathia's first victory with his new team.

"It's exceeding anything I could've imagined," Sabathia said. "I really couldn't have expected anything like this. I feel like I came into the perfect situation."

"That was great for his first performance," Hall said of Sabathia. "It's going to be fun."

The Brewers finalized the long-rumored deal for Sabathia by sending prized prospect Matt LaPorta and three other minor leaguers to the Cleveland Indians on Monday.

"We were excited to announce our trade," Yost said. "He's a big-time, big-money pitcher, and it's only going to get more fun and better."

Sabathia came to Milwaukee with a 6-8 record and a 3.83 ERA but was 3-0 with 41 strikeouts over his last five starts with Cleveland.

Colorado's Matt Holliday went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games.