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| Weeks helps Brewers snap skid, top Cards MILWAUKEE 4, ST LOUIS 3 |
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By J.R. Radcliffe PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - Jason Isringhausen's first two pitches suggested that the much-maligned righthander was not going to have one of those off-nights that have been haunting him of late. Appearances can be deceiving. Rickie Weeks' two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning helped the Milwaukee Brewers snap a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Coming off a blown save in his last outing two days earlier in Colorado, Isringhausen (1-4) retired the first two batters he faced on two pitches before allowing singles to J.J. Hardy and Gabe Kapler. After Jason Kendall walked to load the bases, Weeks promptly singled to left field to plate Hardy and Kapler to give the Brewers the victory and Isringhausen his fifth blown save of the season. "We should have five more wins in the win column, in my mind," Isringhausen said. "We should be out in first place even more. They can't keep sending me out there when I'm pitching the way I'm pitching. I'm going to have to figure out some kind of remedy. I'm sure that remedy will give me some time off from the role - and get someone in there who can do a better job right now." Isringhausen's fifth blown save tied him with Milwaukee's Eric Gagne for most in the National League. "I'm just pitching like a second grader," Isringhausen said. The Brewers, meanwhile, were celebrating like second graders, playing at home after getting swept in consecutive road series. Weeks was mauled by his teammates after his game-winner. "The way I feel right now," Weeks said, "I could have taken Mike Tyson in three rounds." Weeks had two hits in the contest, but his average still is a dismal at .196. "All you can do is go out there and swing the bat," Weeks said. "That's all you can ask for. In baseball, of course (you get frustrated). You hit balls hard, and guys catch it. But you have to bounce back the next at-bat, come back and try to swing better." The Brewers have now played 13 games decided in the last at-bat - and won nine of them. "I think everybody in this room understands that baseball is cyclical," Kapler said. "A starting pitcher struggles for wins. If he's a good starting pitcher, he's got some wins coming to him. If a hitter struggles for 50 at-bats, he's got some hits coming to him. And if a team is losing and it's a good team, it's got some wins coming to it, also. "As long as you realize that this is a game of waves, then you don't get too concerned when you're on the down side of one." Brian Shouse (3-0) picked up the victory after retiring the side in the ninth, running his scoreless-innings streak for Milwaukee relievers to 12. Albert Pujols launched a 450-foot solo homer in the first off Brewers starter Manny Parra, and St. Louis tallied twice more in the second after pitcher Todd Wellemeyer's run-scoring single and Cesar Izturis walked with the bases loaded to give the Cards a 3-0 lead. Skip Schumaker then lined sharply to first baseman Prince Fielder, who stepped on first for the double play, and the Brewers ultimately escaped further damage. Milwaukee scratched together two runs in the fourth thanks to suspect St. Louis defense. Brendan Ryan, who entered the game in the third after Troy Glaus left with a bruised left tricep, threw wide of first base on Ryan Braun's ground ball. Braun reached second after the miscue and came around to score on Corey Hart's double. A wild pitch later plated Hart as the Brewers halved the deficit. St. Louis committed three errors overall, but none seemed costly until the final pitch of the game. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa implied that changes would be discussed. "You want me to make him feel worse than he already does?" La Russa said when asked of Isringhausen's status. "He feels worse than the fans do." |
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