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Sabathia takes mound as Brewers go for sweep against Pirates

Aug 24, 2008 - 6:45 AM Pittsburgh (57-72) at Milwaukee (75-55), 2:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Miller Park has been kind to the Milwaukee Brewers when facing the Pittsburgh Pirates. CC Sabathia's emergence as one of the toughest pitchers in the National League has been even better for the National League wild-card leaders.

Sabathia and the Brewers look to continue their dominance at home while trying to complete a sweep of the Pirates on Sunday.

The Brewers have won 11 straight home games against the Pirates, and have also taken seven of eight meetings overall this season.

Sabathia (8-0, 1.60 ERA) has been nothing short of fantastic since being traded from the Cleveland Indians before the non-waiver trade deadline. In nine starts as a member of the Brewers, the imposing lefthander has surrendered more than three runs once and has tossed five complete games.

They Brewers moved to 20 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 1992 season in the American League East. Ryan Braun's return to health had a lot to do with that, too.

The All-Star slugger had missed nine of the previous 12 games with an intercostal strain, but played in his second straight contest and homered en route to driving in three runs in Saturday's victory.

On Friday, Milwaukee cruised to a 10-4 triumph behind Dave Bush's strong pitching performance.

Pittsburgh will send Paul Maholm (8-7, 3.64) to the mound with hopes he can continue his stunning emergence as its ace. The 26-year-old lefthander has held opponents to two runs or less in eight of his last 10 starts and has lowered his ERA from 4.28 in that span.

On July 5, he was the tough-luck loser of a 2-1 decision despite tossing eight sterling innings, surrendering one run and four hits.

The Pirates' bullpen will received a boost as the club recalled closer Matt Capps from his rehab assignment with Class AA Altoona. He had been sidelined since July 2 with bursitis in his right shoulder and assumes the closer's role while John Grabow will return to a middle relief job.