Ben Sheets' complete game effort in a 6-0 victory over San Francisco Sunday capped off an impressive opening week for the Brewers' starting rotation.

Sheets opened the season with 6.1 shutout innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, striking out seven Chicago batters while walking just two. Against the Giants Sunday, he scattered five hits and walked none.

Milwaukee starters are 4-1 this season with an earned run average of 2.87. They've allowed 30 hits while striking out 34 and walking 13.

"I'm very, very pleased with our pitching staff," Yost said. "I'm pleased with the way that they're out there executing their pitches."

Yost and the pitchers are also quick to credit veteran catcher Jason Kendall for the staff's early success. Signed as a free agent last winter, Kendall came with a reputation for working well with pitchers.

"This is what we envisioned when we got him," Yost said. "He's a guy that can be a leader behind the plate and work with these pitchers and get them through the game.

"It's only six games into the season -- he's done it in spring training, too -- but this was a huge pickup for us."

Sheets says the relationship is working well, especially because Kendall's game-calling can take some of the pressure off him. He shook off a pitch just three times in the opener and thinks he only shook off two on Sunday.

"He does the thinking for me," Sheets says. "If I can keep my head out of it, I think I'm better."

They're not only pitching well, they're pitching deep into ballgames, as well. The bullpen has worked just 16.1 innings this season.

The only hiccup from the starting rotation so far came from Dave Bush in a 6-3 loss at Chicago on April 3. Bush, who struggled throughout spring training, had issues with his command and is the only starter to have a loss this season.

It's been awhile: Sheets last shutout came during his rookie season on May 29, 2001 at St. Louis.

"I knew it had been awhile," Sheets said. "I had some complete games, but you don't forget something like that."

Sheets doesn't remember who caught him that day.

"I thought it was going to be easy," Sheets said. "I remember it was my 15th or 16th start and I thought 'I'll get 15, 20, 100 of these' ... here it is, seven years later."

The statistic is somewhat surprising considering some of the outings Sheets has had since then, including an 18-strikeout effort against Atlanta in 2006 and his complete game against the Dodgers last year on Opening Day.

Yost had no idea that so much time had passed.

"I didn't know that," Yost said. "It's very hard for me to believe that. He was just dynamite today."

Sheets was dominant from the first pitch on Sunday, was a 92-mile per hour fastball. He struck out the first three Giants batters on 11 pitches to open the game.

"That was Ben Sheets right there at his finest," Yost said. "Right from the beginning he was attacking down with his fastball down in the strike zone. He had a fastball in the mid-90s and a biting curveball that he was throwing for strikes.

"When he's got them both going, he's tough to face."

Still going: It's early, but it's obvious that Gabe Kapler can still play.

Kapler spent last season managing in the Boston farm system. He came to the Brewers spring camp as a non-roster invitee. General Manager Doug Melvin knew Kapler from their days with the Texas Rangers and thought he might be able to provide some outfield depth.

In the absence of Mike Cameron, who is serving a 25-game suspension, Kapler has stepped up. He's made two starts -- both against left-handers -- and is hitting .438. He hit his first-ever pinch-hit home run on Saturday in a 5-4 victory over the Giants and followed that with his second homer of the season in the series finale.  Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

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