Brewers not resting on quick start
Milwaukee (5-1) vs. Cincinnati (4-3), Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.

CT
By JR Radcliffe / Special to MLB. com

The Brewers opened 2007 with a now-infamous 24-10 mark before
surrendering their 8 1/2-game lead in the National League Central, so
a 5-1 start to the season won't lead to much self-congratulation.



But it sure is a start.



The Brewers enjoyed Opening Week, taking two of three at Wrigley Field
in Chicago before sweeping the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park,
with superb pitching performances dotting the early-season landscape.
Jeff Suppan, who delivered one of those outings with 6 1/3 strong
innings at Chicago on April 1, will toe the mound when the club opens
up against Cincinnati on Tuesday.



"Anytime you win a baseball game, get off to a great start, that's
nice," manager Ned Yost said. "We just have to take it day-by-day.
[Monday] is an off-day, so we get to sit back and enjoy this one for
two days and then it all starts over. You forget it and take Tuesday
for Tuesday.

"

The Reds employ new manager Dusty Baker and closer Francisco Cordero,
who left Milwaukee in free agency when he signed a four-year, $46
million deal in the offseason. Cordero saved 60 games for the Brewers
over the past season and a half.



Some pundits -- notably Sports Illustrated -- think the Reds have
enough young talent to finish ahead of the Brewers in the Central
standings, with most outlets viewing the Cubs as the team to beat and
Milwaukee second.



"They're a good team, definitely some good young pitching," said
Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, who has home runs in two straight
games. "Hopefully, we continue to play good defense and continue to
get good starting pitching. We should be in good shape.

"

The Reds had their own fast start, a 4-3 showing that included strong
performances from young pitchers Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto. The
latter pitcher will start the opener after a dazzling debut, in which
he threw five perfect innings.



As for the Brewers' fast start, Yost senses something different than
last year's run.



"I just think this year, we're more experienced," Yost said. "Some of
the things that I see us doing are products of that experience, which
is a really good sign.

"

Pitching matchup
MIL: RHP Jeff Suppan (1-0, 2.

84 ERA)
Suppan got off to a nice start against the Cubs last week, holding
Chicago to a pair of solo home runs in 6 1/3 innings of work. Now he
returns home to Miller Park, where he was 9-3 last season with a 3.87
ERA (versus 3-9 with a 5.38 ERA on the road). Suppan also continued a
trend of starting the season sharp; his career 4.08 ERA in April was
better than any other month.



CIN: RHP Johnny Cueto (1-0, 1.

29 ERA)
Major League debuts don't get much better than what Cueto did in a 3-2
win over Arizona on Thursday at Great American Ball Park. The
right-hander retired 21 of his 22 batters, including the first 15 in a
row. In his seven-inning, 10-strikeout effort, the only hit allowed
was a Justin Upton leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Cueto did not
walk any batters, nor did he even reach a three-ball count at any time
vs. the D-backs. The right-hander blew hitters away with a fastball
that ran inside, often at 96 mph. He also showed effective command of
his hard slider and a changeup.



Tidbits
The Brewers' 25-man roster includes three players who had retired at
one point in their careers -- Gabe Kapler, Joe Dillon and Salomon
Torres -- and all three were coaches in some capacity during their
layoff. Kapler kept his comeback story fresh with his second home run
in as many days Sunday. ... The Brewers have scored first in every
game this season. ... Three different pitchers achieved saves for the
Brewers in the first five games of the year -- the first such
occurrence in club history. ... The Brewers set an attendance record
for an opening series, with 119,800 fans through the turnstiles. The
mark eclipses the 116,752 drawn in 2001 -- the first three games ever
at Miller Park.



On television
• WMLW 41

On radio
• WTMJ 620

Up next
• Wednesday: Brewers (Dave Bush, 0-1, 10.13) vs. Reds (Josh Fogg, 0-1,
13.50), 7:05 p.m.

CT
• Thursday: Brewers (Carlos Villanueva, 1-0, 3.38) vs. Reds (Aaron
Harang, 0-1, 2.77), 12:05 p.m.

CT
• Friday: Brewers (Manny Parra, 1-0, 3.38) at Mets (John Maine, 0-1,
9.00), 6:10 p.m.

CT

JR Radcliffe is a contributor to MLB. com.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or
its clubs.