Final
Sheets returns to help Brewers playoff push
Sep 27, 2008 - 10:10 AM Chi Cubs (96-63) at Milwaukee (89-71) 3:55 pm. EDTMILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Ben Sheets' return could not come at a better time for the streaking Milwaukee Brewers, who aim to secure their first postseason berth in 26 years on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
Milwaukee, which has not participated in October baseball since 1982, controls its own destiny after Rickie Weeks belted a three-run homer in a 5-1 victory on Friday and the New York Mets lost to Florida.
The Brewers appeared to be choking away a shot at the postseason, as they lost 15 of their first 19 games in September and squandered a 5 1/2-game lead in the wild-card race. However, Milwaukee (89-71) has won five straight to regain the wild-card lead.
The Brewers can clinch with a win and a loss by the Mets.
"It's a good feeling when you have destiny in your hands," Brewers interim manager Dale Sveum said. "We don't have to chase anybody, we're not tied, we're not anything. It's in our hands now."
For the first time since September 17, the ball will be in Sheets' hands. The righthander left that game against the Chicago Cubs after two innings due to elbow soreness. An impending free agent, Sheets (13-8, 2.98 ERA) threw 20 pitches in a bullpen session on Thursday and said he is ready to go.
"We're going to give it a try," said Sheets, who is 10-8 with a 3.98 ERA in 26 career starts against the Cubs.
"He looked me in the eye and said he feels as good as he has in a month," Sveum said. "We'll ride it out and see how he does."
Sheets will be opposed by Ted Lilly (16-9, 4.17), who is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his last three outings.
- ** CONFIRMED **
NL
CHICAGO CUBS 7
MILWAUKEE 3 FINAL
Sep 27 7:01 PM - NL
AT MILWAUKEE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Stetter relieved S Torres.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R CEDENO ON FIRST, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 6
MILWAUKEE 3 TOP, 9TH
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M Hoffpauir (.362, 0-FOR-3)
Cubs 6, Brewers 3 Top 9, 0 OutsSep 27 6:40 PM - NL
AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CRAIG COUNSELL SCORED ALCIDES ESCOBAR.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C COUNSELL ON FIRST, M CAMERON ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 4
MILWAUKEE 2 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: R BRAUN (.285, 1-FOR-3)
Cubs 4, Brewers 2 Bot 8, 0 OutsSep 27 6:23 PM - NL
AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY J.J. HARDY SCORED RYAN BRAUN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, P FIELDER ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 4
MILWAUKEE 1 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: C HART (.270, 0-FOR-2)
Cubs 4, Brewers 1 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 27 5:56 PM - NL
AT MILWAUKEE - PITCHING CHANGE
MIL: MARK DIFELICE (1-0, 2.95) IN THE 3RD
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M FONTENOT ON FIRST, R JOHNSON ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHICAGO CUBS 4, MILWAUKEE 0
DUE UP FOR CHCUBS: C MCGEHEE (.211, 0-FOR-1)
Cubs 4, Brewers 0 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 27 4:40 PM - NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CHICAGO CUBS 2 2 2 0
MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)
CURRENT PITCHERS: CHN - TED LILLY
MIL - BEN SHEETS
DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: M FONTENOT (.303, 9 HR, 37 RBI)
C MCGEHEE (.222, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
H BLANCO (.289, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
Cubs 2, Brewers 0 Top 2, 0 OutsSep 27 4:09 PM
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