Sat Sep 6 11:13:29 2008

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Aces Wild: Peavy, Sheets square off in Milwaukee

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(Sports Network) - Two of the National League's established aces square off tonight when the San Diego Padres visit the Milwaukee Brewers in the third test of a four-game weekend series tonight at Miller Park.

Reigning Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy goes for the road-tripping Padres, who split the first two games of the series - winning, 5-2, on Thursday before dropping a 3-2 decision in 11 innings Friday.

Ben Sheets takes the mound for the Brewers, missing no time after tweaking a left groin muscle during his last start - Milwaukee's 4-2 loss to the New York Mets on Sept. 1.

Peavy, who was 19-6 with a stingy 2.54 earned run average through his hardware-worthy season in 2007, is 3-2 in eight career starts against Milwaukee with a 2.66 ERA in 47 1/3 innings.

He last faced the Brewers Aug. 14 in San Diego and emerged with a 3-2 win after allowing four hits and a run over seven innings, walking three and striking out eight.

Peavy's winless in three starts since, however, going 0-1 with a pair of no- decisions while giving up 14 hits and seven earned runs in 19 innings.

Sheets, who opposed Peavy on August 14 and took the loss after allowing five hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings, was lifted after five scoreless innings against the Mets as a precautionary measure.

He's skidded to just two wins in his last 10 starts after a 10-2 beginning to the season. The Brewers are 4-6 in those 10 subsequent outings and have scored just 10 runs in the six losses.

Prior to the Mets incident, Sheets hurled six scoreless innings in an Aug. 26 defeat of the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing five hits and striking out four.

He's not allowed a run since dropping a 5-2 verdict to Houston on Aug. 19.

Sheets is 0-2 in four career starts against the Padres with an 8.46 ERA in 22 1/3 innings.

On Friday, J.J. Hardy drove in the game-winning run in the 11th inning and the Brewers pulled out the one-run victory.

Brian Falkenborg (2-3) returned in the 11th after pitching the 10th and created a first and third situation by allowing singles to Mike Rivera and Ray Durham around a force out by Craig Counsell. Hardy stepped to the plate and lined the game-winner down the left field line.

Jason Kendall had an RBI single and walked twice for Milwaukee, which snapped a four-game slide to move within four games of the slumping Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Reds pounded Chicago 10-2 Friday to extend the Cubs losing streak to six games. The Brewers also maintained a four-game lead in the Wild Card standings over Philadelphia, which blanked the Mets 3-0 Friday.

CC Sabathia posted another strong start, giving up just five hits, one run and a pair of walks in seven innings while fanning nine, but was dealt a no- decision after the bullpen blew a one-run lead. The lefty is 9-0 in 12 starts with the Brewers since being acquired from Cleveland shortly before the All- Star break. The red-hot Sabathia was also 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI single. Brian Shouse (5-1) got the win.

Starter Josh Geer kept pace opposite Sabathia in just his second career start, allowing seven hits, two runs and three walks while striking out a pair of Brewers through five innings.

Milwaukee won twice in three tries against the Padres last month and is 5-2 over the last seven meetings between these clubs.