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Friday, Aug. 11 8:05pm ET
Sexson keys the Brewers' offense | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- In six weeks, Jeff D'Amico has gone from the depths of injury to the height of dominance. Richie Sexson homered and scored three runs, and D'Amico outdueled Darryl Kile as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 Friday night. D'Amico (8-4), the NL Pitcher of the Month for July, had his second strong start in August, allowing six hits over eight innings and striking out six. With his slow curve in top form, he won his sixth straight decision and went to 6-0 with a 1.13 ERA since coming off the disabled list June 30. "It's a recurring theme. My curveball was pretty good, I had a little trouble with control on my fastball, but overall, everything was working," D'Amico said. "I don't expect anybody to bang the ball off the wall the way I'm throwing." With eight runs allowed in his last eight starts, D'Amico is pitching at a level that hasn't been seen in Milwaukee in years. He said he feels more confident and comfortable with every start, and on Friday he didn't flinch under the pressure of pitching in front of more than 30 family members and friends. "That's what we've come to expect out of him now," Milwaukee manager Davey Lopes said. "He's giving an outstanding performance every time he goes out. I don't know anybody in the game who's doing a better job than he is." D'Amico was facing the Cardinals for the first time in more than three years. He missed all but one inning of the last two seasons with arm injuries. "He wasn't overpowering, he just had good command," said Will Clark, who doubled twice and had three hits for St. Louis. "When you pitch against a good-hitting team like we have, that's what it takes." Kile (13-8), who lost for the fourth time in six decisions, gave up a two-run homer to Sexson in the first inning before retiring 11 straight hitters. But Kile, who allowed seven hits and struck out seven in six innings, gave up four solid singles in the sixth. Marquis Grissom and Henry Blanco each drove in a run with two-out hits, breaking a 2-2 tie and giving D'Amico run support he didn't get in his last start, when he allowed two runs over eight innings at Los Angeles but couldn't get a decision. "I made some mistakes (in the sixth), and they scored some runs that cost us the game," Kile said. "I just didn't execute a very good pitch (to Grissom)." The Cardinals lost for the fourth time in six games. Their NL Central lead over the Cincinnati Reds, who beat the Cubs 6-4 Friday, shrank to 4{ games, the smallest it has been since July 5. "We just need to start winning more of these games and take charge of every series we play," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. Sexson hit a two-run homer, his third since being traded from Cleveland, and Tyler Houston added a two-run double in the seventh as Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory in the first game of a six-game homestand. The Cardinals scored a run in the third on an RBI single by Fernando Vina, a 1998 All-Star for the Brewers who was traded to St. Louis in the offseason. Will Clark singled in Eric Davis in the sixth to tie the game 2-2. Game notesD'Amico hasn't lost since June 5. ... Edgar Renteria lost control of his bat while popping up in the first inning. The bat went flying toward the Cardinals' dugout, and on-deck hitter Jim Edmonds had to dive to the ground to avoid it. ... SS Jose Hernandez was a late scratch from the Brewers' starting lineup with back spasms, and he was using crutches to get through the clubhouse after the game. He is day to day. ... Jeromy Burnitz received loud boos from the County Stadium crowd when he popped up in the sixth inning. Burnitz was hitting .211. ... Saturday's nationally televised game between the teams is scheduled for a 12:15 p.m. CDT start, the earliest at County Stadium this year. The Brewers, who planned Bob Uecker Day festivities for the game before television rescheduled the start time, will honor their longtime broadcaster with ceremonies scheduled to start shortly after 11 a.m. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard St. Louis Clubhouse Milwaukee Clubhouse RECAPS Chi. White Sox 6 Tampa Bay 5
Milwaukee 6
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