Suppan helps Cards end three-game skid

MILWAUKEE -- Jeff Suppan has the same approach against Milwaukee as any other team. It just works much better against the Brewers.

Suppan allowed six hits in eight innings and Jim Edmonds homered as the St. Louis Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Brewers on Sunday.

"I want to keep my mind in the same frame of mind every start," Suppan said after beating Milwaukee for the 11th time in his career. "So, when I got out there, what I've done in the past against these guys doesn't matter. What I've done in the past this year doesn't matter. What matters is that particular pitch I'm throwing."

Suppan (16-10) threw 92 pitches, 65 for strikes as he matched his career high in wins, set last season. The 30-year-old right-hander's career victory total against the Brewers is his most against any team, and he is 4-0 with a 1.31 ERA in five starts against Milwaukee this season.

The Cardinals helped Suppan with three double plays, setting a franchise record with 193 this season. Suppan said that they all helped against the Brewers.

"It's a true phrase, it's a true phrase," he said of double plays being a pitcher's best friend.

Suppan struck out seven, matching his season high, and never allowed a runner past second.

St. Louis, which has already secured home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs, had matched its longest skid of the season.

Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth for 37th save in 41 opportunities.

Milwaukee was trying to sweep the series after beating 16-game winner Mark Mulder on Saturday, one day after roughing up 21-game winner Chris Carpenter in a 9-6 win.

"The way Milwaukee has been swinging, a performance like that by Suppan is off the charts," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He did a great job of moving the ball around, changing speeds."

Milwaukee (77-78) is trying to finish with a winning record for the first time since 1992, when the Brewers were in the American League.

Doug Davis (11-11) faced the Cardinals for the fifth time this season and remained winless against them. He is 0-4 with a 5.48 ERA against St. Louis after allowing four hits and striking out seven in eight innings.

"I got outpitched today," Davis said. "You can't win when the other pitcher throws a shutout."

Davis retired eight of the first nine Cardinals before Edmonds tripled to lead off the fourth. After Albert Pujols walked, Reggie Sanders hit a sacrifice fly for the first run of the game.

"He was dead on," Brewers manager Ned Yost said of Davis' effort. "It just seems like when he pitches we match up with a pitcher who has a great day."

Edmonds hit his 29th homer, a solo shot in the sixth, pushing the lead to 2-0.

The Cardinals tried to squeeze in a run in the fifth, but just missed. Hector Luna doubled with one out and stole third. He broke for home as Suppan tried to bunt on an 0-2 pitch and missed. Luna was caught in a rundown.

The Cardinals finished their final road trip, a 10-game stretch, with a 4-6 mark. It was their only losing trip of the season.

Notes: A thunderstorm sent rain through the closed roof of Miller Park. Fans seated in front of the press box either moved or opened umbrellas to wait out the shower. ... The Cardinals had 192 double plays in 1974. ... Pujols surprised a young fan seated near the Cardinals' dugout. Waiting in the on-deck circle, Pujols checked his helmet, then flipped it to the boy, before getting another one out of the dugout. ... Edmonds' next homer will make his fifth 30-home run season in six years with the Cardinals.