CHICAGO - Doug Davis hopes to erase the memory of his
last two starts. Historically for the lefthander, a matchup
with the Chicago Cubs is a pretty good cure.
Davis takes the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday when
they continue their three-game set with the Cubs.
In his last start Sunday, Davis (0-2, 7.66 ERA) allowed three
runs in five innings, yielding three hits in addition to a
franchise record-tying nine walks in the 11-0 thrashing. The
30-year-old did not fare much better in his previous outing,
when he was reached for nine runs and eight hits - including a
pair of homers - in a 13-12 defeat against Houston on April 18.
Davis will look to bounce back against a Cubs team against which
he is 4-4 with a crisp 2.88 ERA in nine career starts. He
faced them three times last season, going 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA.
Chicago gives the ball to Glendon Rusch (1-3, 6.41), who yielded
three runs in 4 2/3 innings of Saturday's 4-1 setback to St.
Louis. The former Brewers lefthander is 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA in
12 lifetime games - six starts - against his old team.
The Cubs took the series opener Friday, 6-2, as Greg Maddux
permitted two runs in six innings to improve to 5-0 for the
first time in his legendary career. Ronny Cedeno and Jacque
Jones each collected three hits and two RBIs for Chicago, which
has won four of its last five games.