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Sabathia keeps on rolling as Brewers top Braves

Aug 3, 2008 - 12:05 AM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- CC Sabathia continues to crank out wins for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sabathia allowed two runs and six hits over 8 2/3 frames to lead the Brewers to a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Braves at sweltering Turner Field on Saturday afternoon.

Prince Fielder smashed two homers for the 11th time in his major league career for Milwaukee, which matched a franchise record by notching its ninth consecutive road win.

"Everytime that (Sabathia) pitches, he throws eight or innings," Fielder said. "He really helps out with the bullpen and he's winning. Pretty much, he's been just awesome."

Hoping to end a 26-year playoff drought, the once small-market Brewers rolled the dice and traded three prospects for the former Cleveland Indians ace to complement a healthy Ben Sheets in the Milwaukee rotation.

The move by general manager Doug Melvin has turned out to be brilliant thus far as the Brewers entered Saturday four games behind the Cubs (65-46) in the competitive NL Central and tied with the St. Louis Cardinals (62-50) for the wild card, thanks in part to Sabathia (5-0).

"He's pitched unbelievable," Fielder said. "He's pitched like I've seen him since I've been here. It's the same guy that I've seen on ESPN since I've been in high school."

A makeshift Atlanta lineup was no match for the lefthander, who retired 12 straight Braves from the second to the sixth inning en route notching his fifth win in six starts for the Brewers.

"I think it's just that they've not seen me," a modest Sabathia said about his success since moving to the NL. "I'm able to get away with a little more."

Braves manager Bobby Cox disagreed.

"He was good before he came over (to the National League), too," Cox said. "We got a couple of hits off Sabathia. Unfortunately, we gave up some runs."

Sabathia walked one and struck out nine before leaving after recording the first out in the bottom of the ninth.?? Sabathia, who has not lost since June 5, threw 78 of his 109 pitches for strikes.

"He's been a horse," Kendall said. "It doesn't matter how good you throw, if you work both sides of the plate, you're going to be successful. He kept the ball down and worked both sides of the plate."

Salomon Torres allowed a two-out RBI single to Kelly Johnson before retiring Clint Sammons to record his 21st save.

Fielder continued his nightly power show, finding the seats for the fourth day in a row.?? He homered on the first pitch of the seventh off Charlie Morton (2-5), launching a 406-foot shot into the right-center field bleachers to tie the game, 1-1.

One frame later, the slugger was at it again, launching a two-run blast off Atlanta reliever Rafael Soriano 435-feet into the seats in right-center field for this 25th homer of the season.

"I like 'em all," Fielder said of his homers. "All of them are dramatic for me. ... I'm just trying to keep my head on the ball."

Jason Kendall plated Milwaukee's other run by driving in Corey Hart with a double down the left field line in the seventh to help Milwaukee to its first nine-game road winning streak since June 8-17, 1973.

"This is what you play baseball for," Kendall said. "There's two months left. This one's over. It's a good win. We can't think about Cincinnati (on Monday). We have to worry about tomorrow's game and see what happens."

Fielder ruined what was otherwise an encouraging afternoon for Morton, who had his best start in his big league uniform.?? The rookie hurler, who allowed eight runs over 3 2/3 frames against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, retired 15 straight after allowing a single to Craig Counsell to lead off the second before allowing two runs in the seventh.

"It's a confidence builder," Morton said of his outing. "It's a big step. Just hope to build on it. Roger and I worked in the bullpen other day. We were working on keeping the ball down. Sometimes, I get the tendency to try to do too much."

The righthander allowed two runs and four hits, walked one and struck out four over a career-best seven frames.

"Charlie was much better and looked a lot better on the mound," Cox said. "His location was so much better today. We've seen him this good. It's all about consistency and location. It never goes away."

Newly acquired Casey Kotchman drove in his first Braves run in the first for Atlanta, which has dropped seven of its last eight games.