Jeff Suppan (8-7, 4.88 ERA) looks to continue Milwaukee's
dominance of Pittsburgh, hoping he has recaptured the form that
made him one of the Brewers' most successful starters early
this season.
The right-hander delivered five quality starts in his first six
games, but had only one in 10 starts since April before his
outing against Houston on Wednesday. Suppan held the Astros to
three runs in six innings while striking out a season-high
seven in the Brewers' 6-3, 11-inning win.
Suppan is 9-3 with a 3.90 ERA in 16 career starts against the
Pirates, including a 2-0 record against them this season.
The Pirates counter with right-hander John Van Benschoten (0-2,
4.30), who is still looking for his first major league win
since 2004. He spent all of the 2005 and 2006 seasons in the
minors, and lost his first two starts after he was called up
from Triple-A Indianapolis on June 15.
He didn't get a decision in his third start Wednesday, when he
held Florida to two runs and three hits in four innings of the
Pirates' 7-5, 10-inning win.
Van Benschoten made his lone career start against Milwaukee in
2004, giving up four runs in five innings to suffer the loss.
Manager Ned Yost was all smiles Sunday morning as he held a
clubhouse meeting at Wrigley Field to inform his players that
four Brewers made an all-star team for the first time since
1983.
"I love it," said Yost. "It makes my year. This is like being
knighted. You're going to be an all-star for the rest of your
life."
First baseman Prince Fielder, shortstop J.J. Hardy,
right-hander Ben Sheets and closer Francisco Cordero were named
to the National League squad for the All-Star Game on July 10
in San Francisco.
Fielder was elected in fan balloting, the first Milwaukee
player so honored since 1988, when Paul Molitor was voted onto
the American League team. Hardy, Sheets and Cordero were
selected by ballots cast by players throughout the NL.
The Brewers last sent four players to the All-Star Game in '83,
when catcher Ted Simmons and shortstop Robin Yount were voted
in by the fans, and first baseman Cecil Cooper and outfielder
Ben Oglivie were added to the squad. Since joining the NL in
1998, the Brewers never had more than two representatives
named.
Sheets will go to the All-Star Game for the third time, and
Cordero is making his second trip (first in the NL). Fielder
and Hardy were elected for the first time.
"It's a great, great honor, to be able to represent your team
and city," said Yost, who went to the All-Star Game three times
as a coach with Atlanta and once, two years ago, as manager of
the Brewers.
"When you get elected to the all-star team," he said, "you get
a title that stays with you forever. Plus, I know how much fun
it is."
CUBS 5, BREWERS 1: RHP Jason Marquis shut down the Milwaukee
attack on Sunday, allowing just four hits in seven innings, and
got just a little help from his defense, too. The Brewers
trailed, 4-0, in the top of the fourth when J.J. Hardy and Ryan Braun opened the inning with singles. Prince Fielder then
mashed a drive that on most days would have flown well out of
Wrigley Field, but 14 mph winds blowing in held the ball up and
centerfielder Angel Pagan was able to run the ball down. Bill Hall then drilled a ball on the nose but it went on one hop
into the glove of shortstop Ryan Theriot, who turned started a
6-4-3 double play. Theriot also had three doubles and three
runs scored for the Cubs, who pulled within 6 1/2 games of the
Brewers by taking two of three.
--RHP Jose Capellan was traded to the Detroit Tigers for
minor-league LHP Chris Cody. Capellan was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA
in seven relief outings for the Brewers. Cody was assigned to
the Brewers' Class A Brevard County affiliate.
--LHP Chris Capuano was activated from the 15-day disabled list
to fill the roster spot vacated when RHP Jose Capellan was
traded to Detroit. Capuano, out three weeks with a groin
strain, will return to the starting rotation Tuesday in
Pittsburgh.
--RHP Yovani Gallardo, who went 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in three
starts in place of injured LHP Chris Capuano, will move into a
long-relief role in the bullpen.
--RF Corey Hart homered to lead off the sixth inning Sunday,
extending his career-best hitting streak to 16 games. Hart has
11 homers on the season, 10 of them since June 2.
--LF Geoff Jenkins collected his first triple of the season
when his drive caromed off the center field wall and away from
Chicago center fielder Angel Pagan. Jenkins had one triple in
both 2005 and 2006 after hitting a career-best six triples in
2004.
BY THE NUMBERS: 17-9 -- The Brewers' record in June, after
struggling through May with a 14-15 record.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We played good all three games. We only won
one. We could have won more." -- Manager Ned Yost, after the
Brewers went 1-2 in a weekend series against second-place
Chicago.
MEDICAL WATCH:
SS J.J. Hardy (sore left hip) missed the June 19 game and had
to leave the June 20 game after three innings. He did not play
on June 22-24, but he returned to action June 25.
LHP Chris Capuano (strained left groin) went on the disabled
list retroactive to June 9 after getting scratched from his
June 13 start. He threw a simulated game June 27, was activated
July 1 and is scheduled to return to the rotation July 3.
RHP Elmer Dessens (right shoulder strain) went on the disabled
list retroactive to May 19. He pitched a simulated game June 16
but cut it short when he experienced discomfort.
3B Corey Koskie (post-concussion syndrome) has been out all
season, and there is no timetable for his return to action.