About the Author
More By Grant McAuley
Other recent voters
The Tomahawk Times - Sheets masterful in Brewers 4-1 win over Braves
| 6
|
ATLANTA -- Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets tossed a four-hit complete game gem to give the visiting Brewers a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Jo-Jo Reyes (3-5) was unable to escape the third inning, allowing four earned runs before departing with one out in the frame. Turner Field has not been kind to Reyes, who sports a 5.88 ERA in seven starts at home this season.
Milwaukee got a two-run homer from Mike Cameron in the second inning, which would be all the support Sheets would need. Run-scoring doubles by J.J. Hardy and Ryan Braun in the third to chase Reyes and open up a 4-0 advantage.
Sheets (9-1) went the distance for his third complete game of the season and did not issue a walk while striking out seven. By allowing just run over nine innings, Sheets lowered his career ERA against Atlanta by nearly half a run, from 4.80 to 4.39.
The lone Atlanta run came in the fourth, when Brian McCann grounded into a double play that allowed Kelly Johnson to scamper home.
The win over Atlanta gives the Brewers seven victories in their last eight contests, pushing them to within a game and a half of the St. Louis Cardinals for second place in the National League Central.
Jeff Francoeur was held hitless in three at-bats by Sheets, making him 4-for-33 (.121) over his last nine games. After hitting just .236 in May, Francouer's struggles carried over to June, where he is hitting .214 through Monday.
Despite the loss and a 38-40 record, Atlanta is still hanging in the NL Race and are just a half game off the New York Mets for third place. The Braves are only four and a half games behind the front running idle Philadelphia Philles, who have lost five games in a row. The Florida Marlins, also idle on Monday, trail the Phillies by just one game.
On Deck: The series continues on Tuesday as the Braves will send Charlie Morton to the mound in search of his second win of the year. Dave Bush gets the call for Milwaukee. Game time is set for 7:10 PM EST.
