Sports

Brewers Win Over Giants, 8-5

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― So much attention has been focused on Milwaukee's pitching staff lately that it's been easy to overlook the Brewers' offense. Not anymore.

Prince Fielder homered for the second straight day, Ryan Braun had three hits and Rickie Weeks added a two-run double to cap a four-run sixth inning to help Milwaukee remain unbeaten against the San Francisco Giants this season with an 8-5 win on Saturday.

"We have a young offensive team and we're at times not as disciplined as maybe we will be in the future, but they can really swing the bat," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "I like to call this a quick strike offense. We can hit three-run homers with the best of 'em. Our kids are very, very talented offensively."

Milwaukee acquired left-handed starter CC Sabathia just before the All-Star break to pair with Ben Sheets as the anchors of the team's starting rotation. The move put the previously struggling Brewers into the spotlight and spurred NL Central-leading Chicago to trade for Rich Harden.

The Brewers apparently aren't through trying to upgrade their pitching, either.

A Milwaukee newspaper reported Friday that the Brewers had dispatched a special assistant to New York to watch Oakland closer Huston Street pitching against the Yankees. A radio station took it a step further, saying a trade had been completed Saturday, though a team spokesman denied the re.

Carlos Villanueva (4-5), the second of four relievers the Brewers used, pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings to get the win. Salomon Torres pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 19 opportunities.

Sheets, who started and threw two scoreless innings for the American League in Tuesday's All-Star game, labored throughout the game and had problems with his command.

Sheets gave up nine hits and four runs -- two earned -- over five innings before turning the game over to Milwaukee's bullpen. The veteran righty, pitching on three days rest for the first time this season, also had an RBI-double as Milwaukee improved to 5-0 against San Francisco this season.

Omar Vizquel had two hits for the Giants but, typical of San Francisco's season this year, had to leave the game in the sixth after fouling a ball off his left ankle.

Vizquel entered the game with a .156 average and was 6-for-64 over a 21-game stretch before doubling and singling off Sheets. The veteran shortstop also drove in a run and scored for the Giants, who lost for the ninth time in 11 games.

San Francisco right-hander Jonathan Sanchez struck out eight in 5 1-3 innings but remained winless in his last three starts. Notes:@San Francisco reliever Keiichi Yabu hit the first batter he faced for the second straight game. ... Giants' RHP Tim Lincecum (11-2), who did not pitch in the All-Star game after coming down with an illness, will start for San Francisco on Sunday. LHP Manny Parra (8-2) will throw for the Brewers. ... Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry and Vida Blue were among 53 former Giants pitchers and catchers honored during pregame festivities as part of the team's 50th anniversary celebration. Ex-managers Roger Craig and Alvin Dark were also honored.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)