Sheets shuts down Reds
Newcomer Cordero halts Cincinnati rally in ninth
Monday, July 31, 2006
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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Reds catcher Jason LaRue is late with the tag as Brady Clark of the Brewers scores in the first inning. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ben Sheets wanted to finish his first win since coming off the disabled list. Francisco Cordero made everything all right in the end.
Sheets allowed two runs in eight innings, Kevin Mench drove in four runs and Cordero got one out for his first save with his new club, leading the Milwaukee Brewers over the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 yesterday.
"Ben Sheets was outstanding," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "It was one of the best games we’ve seen all year."
Sheets carried a five-hit shutout into the ninth, but Adam Dunn singled and Ken Griffey Jr. followed with his 21 st homer of the season to chase the right-hander from the game.
"To battle back like that after the day Ben Sheets had against us was outstanding," Narron said.
Brewers manager Ned Yost pulled Sheets against his wishes.
"Benny didn’t want to come out of the game," Yost said. "It made no sense to push him."
The Brewers then inserted Derrick Turnbow, who saved Milwaukee’s 6-3 victory Saturday night after blowing four straight save opportunities. Rich Aurilia greeted him with a home run to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Yost pulled Turnbow after the Reds put runners on first and third with two outs. Pinch-runner Brandon Watson stole second, but Cordero got pinchhitter David Ross to ground out for his first save with Milwaukee.
The Brewers acquired Cordero and Mench on Friday in the deal that sent All-Star outfielder Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers. Cordero, who was a closer and then a setup man for Texas, said whatever the Brewers want him to do is fine.
"If I’m going to contribute to the team in any way, that’s what I’m going to do," he said.
Sheets (2-3) struck out 10 and issued one intentional walk in his second start since being reinstated off the disabled list last week. He was out for 2 1 /2 months because of tendinitis in his right shoulder.
Sheets allowed one run in seven innings in his first start off the DL, getting a no-decision in Milwaukee’s 6-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
"I don’t care about the decision," said Sheets, who beat Atlanta on April 26 in his only other victory this season. "We needed a win bad."
The Brewers took two of three from the Reds and won for just the sixth time in 18 games.
"Two out of three, we needed to do that and we did it," Sheets said. "(I’m) hoping that’s a step in the right direction for what we want to do."
Sheets improved to 6-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 13 career starts against the Reds, his best ERA against any National League team. He gave up two runs in seven innings of a 3-1 loss to Cincinnati on April 21.
Mench singled in a run in the first. He hit a three-run drive in the seventh for his first homer with Milwaukee.
Aaron Harang (11-7) left after Mench’s shot. He allowed four runs and 10 hits while striking out nine and walking one in six innings.
"He made one bad pitch there to Menchie in the seventh, but other than that he did a pretty good job today," Narron said.
Sheets worked out of a jam in the second. Aurilia singled and Scott Hatteberg struck out before Brandon Phillips doubled to left. Juan Castro struck out and Jason LaRue was walked intentionally, but Harang struck out to end the inning. Milwaukee’s defense helped out Sheets with big double plays to end the sixth and seventh.
