Sheets Strikes Out 18 and Beats Braves

Ben Sheets struck out a franchise-record 18 -- the most in the majors in three years -- leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Milwaukee on Sunday.

It was the most strikeouts by a major leaguer since Arizona’s Randy Johnson tied a major league record with 20 on May 8, 2001, against the Cincinnati Reds.

The previous franchise mark of 14 was set by Moose Haas on April 12, 1978, against the New York Yankees.

Sheets (4-2) pitched a three-hitter in his fourth career complete game and struck out six of the last seven batters he faced -- including all three in the ninth. He was as efficient as he was effective, throwing only 116 pitches, 91 for strikes.

New York 3, Houston 2 -- Mike Piazza spoiled Roger Clemens’ bid for his eighth consecutive victory with a tying homer in the ninth against Octavio Dotel, and the visiting Mets won it on Jason Phillips’ 13th-inning home run.

Eric Valent led off the ninth with a double, and two outs later, Piazza hit a 1-and-2 pitch over the right-center-field fence. That spoiled Clemens’ chance to become the first pitcher to win his first eight starts in a season since Pedro Martinez did it in 1997 with the Montreal Expos.

Pittsburgh 8, San Francisco 1 -- Rob Mackowiak homered twice and drove in four runs to help the Pirates complete a three-game sweep at San Francisco.

The Pirates hadn’t swept a series in San Francisco since winning a five-game set in September 1996. They had won only three times in the first four seasons of SBC Park.

Chicago 4, San Diego 2 -- Jose Macias hit a tiebreaking home run against David Wells (2-4) in the fifth inning, helping the Cubs complete a series sweep at San Diego and move into a tie with Houston for first place in the Central Division.

Florida 3, St. Louis 2 -- Brad Penny (4-2) worked six solid innings and the Marlins avoided a three-game sweep at St. Louis. Juan Pierre’s two-run double in the fourth inning was the key hit, helping them complete a 3-3 trip.

Colorado 7, Philadelphia 6 -- Jeromy Burnitz drove in the tiebreaking run with an infield single in the bottom of the eighth inning and had four runs batted in, helping the host Rockies end a three-game losing streak.

Montreal 6, Arizona 1 -- At Phoenix, Livan Hernandez (3-2) pitched a six-hitter for his second complete game in 10 days, and the Expos completed their first series sweep of the season.