Mike Cameron makes big impact in debut as Brewers edge Cubs

[April 30, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Mike Cameron made an immediate impact with Milwaukee, once he had the chance. Cameron had three hits, including a two-run single in the seventh that broke open the game, and the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 10-7 on Tuesday night to overcome a shaky outing by Ben Sheets.

The game was delayed 13 minutes before the top of the third, when plate umpire Jerry Crawford went to the hospital because he was feeling ill. They went with a three-man crew the rest of the way.

Cameron, meanwhile, gave a slumping offense a much-needed spark after serving a 25-game suspension for testing positive twice for a banned stimulant while with San Diego. And the Brewers sent the NL Central leaders to their fourth loss in five games.

Cameron, who signed a one-year contract in the offseason, singled in J.J. Hardy and Tony Gwynn in the seventh after Michael Wuertz walked Jason Kendall with the bases loaded.

Cameron was relieved to see his name in the starting lineup, batting second and playing center, after seeing it linked with the word "suspension" in countless articles. He was restless, too. And he immediately unleashed his pent up energy -- and frustration.

He doubled high off the wall in left in the first and scored, and added a single and run in the third.

Bill Hall, Corey Hart and Hardy each had three hits, and the Brewers banged out 17 in all -- the most for them since they had 19 against St. Louis on Aug. 14. Hall singled in Hart with two out in the fifth, putting the Brewers ahead for good 5-4. Milwaukee got another run in the sixth when Jason Kendall scored on Ryan Braun's force out.

That made a winner of Sheets (4-0), who issued a career-high seven walks while striking out two over five innings after missing a scheduled start against Philadelphia because of tightness in his right triceps. He allowed four runs and three hits in his first appearance since leaving after five innings against Cincinnati April 18.

Eric Gagne pitched a scoreless ninth for his eighth save in 12 chances, but it wasn't easy. Geovany Soto doubled with one out and Mike Fontenot walked with two out, before Reed Johnson forced the runner at third.

Chicago's Derrek Lee tied a club record for home runs in April when he hit his eighth, joining Sammy Sosa and Lee Walls, leading off the third, and the Cubs added another run in the inning to tie it at 4.

But like Sheets, Cubs starter Jason Marquis (1-1) struggled. He allowed five runs and 10 hits in five innings while walking one and striking out two.

[Associated Press; By ROB MAADDI]

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