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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Mike Matthews might have lost his place in the
St. Louis bullpen.
|  | | J.D. Drew is congratulated after rounding third on his 17th home run of the season. |
Matthews allowed three hits in six innings for his first career
victory as a starter, leading the Cardinals over the Milwaukee Brewers
7-4 Thursday.
"I think I was on an 80-pitch limit today," Matthews said.
"We'll see what happens next start. I don't even know if I'm
starting, but I guess it's better that way, because you're pitching
on pure adrenaline.
"Going back to the windup was the biggest adjustment because I
was pitching from the stretch all year long," Matthews said. "I
just treated it like I was coming in for a long relief stint and
just go as long as I can."
Matthews (2-0) made his second career start after 27 relief
appearances and gave up three runs on a pair of homers by Richie
Sexson.
"I played on the same team with Richie for about six years, so
I know him real well and I know he's a tough out, especially
against left-handed pitchers," Matthews said.
"It's hard to get the ball in on him because he's got good
hands. But if he's the only guy I made mistakes to all day and I
still walk away with a win, that's something I'll forget about."
Matthews struck out a career-high six and walked one as the
Cardinals won the series finale after losing twice.
Ben Sheets (4-4) gave up five runs, eight hits and four walks in
4 2-3 innings. Following a four-game winning streak, he has not
made it out of the fifth inning in his last two starts.
"He just didn't have command," Brewers manager Davey Lopes
said. "He didn't have a good feel for his breaking ball or the
location on his fastball today. When you don't have that, you can't
win in this league."
Milwaukee lost for the first time in 11 day games at Miller Park
and dropped to 18-8 overall at its news stadium.
St. Louis trailed 3-2 in the fifth before Kerry Robinson's
two-run single with the bases loaded -- his first RBI in 23 major
league at-bats -- and Mike Matheny's run-scoring single, which chased
Sheets.
"After I get a big second out, I have to make a better pitch,"
Sheets said. "You're going to make mistakes out there. You just
have to learn from them and get them next time."
Albert Pujols added a two-run single in the eighth off Chad Fox.
Mark Loretta hit an RBI double off Gene Stechschulte in the bottom
half.
Milwaukee's Mike DeJean was ejected in the ninth by plate umpire
Derryl Cousins when a pitch sailed behind Matheny. Cousins also
ejected Jim Edmonds for arguing a called third strike that ended
the inning.
On Wednesday night, St. Louis manager Tony La Russa was ejected
by plate umpire Mike Fichter in the ninth for arguing a called
strike to Edmonds.
J.D. Drew's 17th homer, a two-run drive in the first, was
negated by Sexson's two-run homer in the second, a 440-foot drive
to left-center.
Sexson's second homer made it 3-2 in the fourth and gave him six
multihomer games in his career, his first with Milwaukee.
"I guess, personally, it's good to feel better at the plate,
but it's always good to win and I thought we might squeak another
one out," Sexson said. "I'd rather go 0-for-4 and win the game."
Game notes
Vina reached base to open all three games of the series. He
was hit by a pitch in the series opener, singled on Wednesday and
doubled Thursday. He has reached base to open 21 of 42 starts. ...
Matthews singled in the fourth inning for his first major league
hit. ... Geoff Jenkins was hitless in four at-bats, stopping a
13-game hitting streak. Jose Hernandez's streak ended at nine games
when he went 0-for-3.
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OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
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RECAPS
NY Yankees 2
Boston 1
Baltimore 6
Anaheim 4
Cleveland 8
Detroit 5
Chi. White Sox 3
Toronto 1
Texas 9
Tampa Bay 3
St. Louis 7
Milwaukee 4
Chicago Cubs 3
Cincinnati 0
San Diego 3
Arizona 1
Philadelphia 6
Pittsburgh 5
NY Mets 11
Florida 3
San Francisco 5
Colorado 1
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