Sabathia homers, throws complete game to beat Reds

[July 14, 2008]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- CC Sabathia homered in his first National League complete game to help the Milwaukee Brewers avoid a sweep with a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Sabathia hit a home run off Reds starter Homer Bailey in the third, his third career home run and second this season. He became the first pitcher to hit home runs in both leagues in one season since Earl Wilson did it in 1970 for Detroit and San Diego, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

After allowing run-scoring sacrifice flies to David Ross in the second and Adam Dunn in the third, Sabathia (2-0) shut down Cincinnati, striking out nine batters, all from the fourth inning on. He struck out the side in the ninth.

The Brewers headed into the All-Star break in third place in the NL Central, five games behind Chicago. St. Louis is a half-game ahead of Milwaukee.

The game was tied at 2 in the ninth when pinch-hitter Craig Counsell hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to help the Brewers avoid being a three-game sweep to end the first half of the season.

Bill Hall led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off David Weathers (2-5). Mike Cameron dropped down a bunt in front of the plate that Weathers grabbed and threw wildly to first. Hall alertly took off for third and beat the throw. Jason Kendall was walked intentionally.

Francisco Cordero replaced Weathers to face Counsell who hit a fly ball to right fielder Jay Bruce on the first pitch. Hall tagged up on the play and beat the throw home.

The Reds lost leadoff hitter Jerry Hairston, who had to be carried off the field after straining his right hamstring running out a bunt single.

He led off the third inning by bunting toward third. About a quarter of the way there, he pulled up and limped across the bag. He made it to first safely, then fell over clutching his upper right leg.

Manager Dusty Baker, Joey Votto and trainer Mark Mann carried him off. Hairston will have an MRI in Cincinnati on Monday.

In his second start since being traded from Cleveland to Milwaukee, Sabathia pitched an eight-hitter, his fourth complete game of the season and 20th of his career.

Bailey, recalled from Triple-A Louisville before the game, matched up well with Sabathia early. He allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings, didn't walk a batter and struck out four.

Bailey's only mistake was a 0-2 pitch in the third that Sabathia lined over the wall in right. Sabathia also went deep June 21, with Cleveland against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bailey left with a runner at first and 2-1 lead in the sixth, but the bullpen let him down. Reliever Bill Bray promptly walked Prince Fielder and then allowed a run-scoring double by Gabe Kapler.

[Associated Press]

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