Pitching Keeps Brewers Winning

Dave Bush worked out a little harder in the off-season, knowing he wasn’t assured of a spot in his new team’s starting rotation.

It shows.

Carrying momentum from a stellar spring training, Bush gave up two hits in seven innings and Derrick Turnbow got his fourth save in four games to help the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-1, on Friday night at Milwaukee.

“I came into spring training to try to win a job, so I had to be ready to go,” Bush said.

The Brewers have won their first four games of the season for the first time since 1987, and pitching has played a critical role in the quick start.

Turnbow became the first pitcher to save each of his team’s first four games of the season since the save became an official statistic in 1969.

Cincinnati 7, Pittsburgh 6 -- Felipe Lopez homered twice and drove in three runs for the Reds at Cincinnati.

The Pirates are 0-5 for the first time since 1974, when they lost their first six games. The 1955 club dropped its first eight, setting the franchise record for futility.

Red left-hander Eric Milton (1-0) gave up six hits and two runs in seven innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out three.

Houston 6, Washington 1 -- Lance Berkman and Preston Wilson hit two-run homers in the same inning for the second consecutive game to lead the Astros over the Nationals at Houston.

Brandon Backe (1-0), who skipped his scheduled start Wednesday against Florida because of a sore back, held the Nationals to three hits in six strong innings. Craig Biggio added an RBI double and scored on Berkman’s sacrifice fly in the third off starter Tony Armas Jr.

Chicago 5, St. Louis 1 -- Greg Maddux pitched into the seventh inning, Derrek Lee hit his second homer of the season and the Cubs won their home opener over the Cardinals.

A week shy of his 40th birthday, Maddux earned his 319th career victory. He sent the Cardinals to their first loss of the season after a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.

New York 9, Florida 3 -- Steve Trachsel pitched three-hit ball through six innings at New York and drove in a run with the 10,000th double in Met history.

Trachsel (1-0) worked his way out of a first-inning jam, then helped his own cause with the milestone double in the fourth. It came in the 7,000th game in franchise history.

Colorado 10, San Diego 4 -- Eli Marrero drove in four runs with four hits, including a homer, and Josh Fogg won his Colorado debut as the Rockies beat the Padres at San Diego.

Jason Smith and Garrett Atkins also homered for Colorado.