Suppan gets ring and win

Suppan, winning for the first time as a Brewer, was one of three starters who left the Cardinals after they won the World Series last season, signing a four-year contract with Milwaukee.

He pitched well on his St. Louis return and Rickie Weeks hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the fifth innings to help the Brewers to a third straight win.

"This kid pitched Game 7 of the (National League Championship Series), that's where the pressure is," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "This is nothing. This was a regular season game.

"I think it matters for a nice story, but I don't think it matters to Jeff who he's pitching against."

Suppan received a congratulatory telephone call after the game from Milwaukee owner Mark Attanasio who was in Hawaii.

The Cardinals have lost five straight home games after beating Detroit in Game 5 of last year's World Series.

The start was pushed back six hours to give the weather time to clear up after Friday's game was rained out. Suppan then went out and pitched in chilly conditions, beating Kip Wells, one of the pitchers added to the St. Louis rotation.

Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez gave up three home runs and was ejected from the game for hitting winning pitcher Shawn Hill with a pitch as Washington beat the New York Mets 6-2.

The victory was only the third in 12 games for the Nationals and gave former New York third base coach Manny Acta his first victory in two tries against his old club.

In Chicago, the day after new Cubs manager Lou Piniella erupted after a loss to the Reds, Rich Hill gave up three singles over seven shutout innings to lead the Cubs past Cincinnati 7-0. Chicago is 4-6, but Hill, supposedly the Cubs' No. 4 starter, is 2-0 and has allowed only one run on four hits over 14 innings covering two starts.