Pirates lose on Brewers homers

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks each hit home runs for the second consecutive game, Chris Capuano won for the first time in more than three years and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Monday night.

Weeks homered for the third time in two days to extend his club record for homers by a Milwaukee second baseman to 18, and Fielder took over sole possession of the National League home run lead with his 23rd for the Brewers, who have won six of their past eight.

Making his second start since the end of the 2007 season, Capuano (1-1) broke a franchise record 13-game losing streak by allowing a run on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts in five innings.

Capuano, who missed the past two seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery, hadn’t won since May 13, 2007. His only start since Sept. 28, 2007, came in his season debut June 3.

He had made seven relief appearances since but was needed because starter Doug Davis was placed on the disabled list last week.

Todd Coffey, Zach Braddock, Kameron Loe and John Axford combined for four shutout innings of relief.

Axford earned his 12th save in as many opportunities, allowing two men to reach before striking out Ryan Doumit and Ryan Church and getting Ronny Cedeno to ground out.