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Sabathia eyes second win with Brewers

Jul 13, 2008 - 2:19 PM Cincinnati (46-49) at Milwaukee (51-43) 2:05 pm ET

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Even though he got the win in his Milwaukee Brewers' debut, C.C. Sabathia did not enjoy the success he had been accustomed to in the American League. On the other hand, Homer Bailey hasn't even come close to the expectations once placed on him.

Sabathia hopes to improve on an uneven National League debut on Sunday when the Brewers attempt to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds.

While the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was understandably excited in his first start with Milwaukee on Tuesday after being acquired from Cleveland just a day earlier, Sabathia (1-0, 3.00 ERA) displayed the kind of wildness he hadn't seen since the beginning of the season when he walked 14 batters over his first four starts, going 0-3 over that span with the Indians.

"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."

However, unlike his poor start with his former team, Sabathia overcame five walks on Tuesday, limiting the damage when he permitted three runs - two earned - and five hits over six innings, striking out five to collect the victory. For the lefthander, who hasn't lost since June 5, it was his fourth straight winning decision.

Still considered among the Reds' top prospects, Bailey (0-3, 8.76) would likely accept Sabathia's uncharacteristic outing if it meant he could secure a victory. The righthander, who has struggled to a 4-7 record and 4.42 ERA in 16 starts with Class AAA Louisville this season, has been considerably worse with Cincinnati, failing to make it out of the fourth inning in either of his last two outings.

The 22-year-old righthander, who was recalled from Louisville to replace ace Aaron Harang (right forearm stiffness) in the rotation, surrendered five runs - including three homers - and four hits over just 2.1 innings to take the loss in a 9-0 setback to Boston on June 15.