Since he became a member of the Brewers in July, CC Sabathia has done everything possible to snap his new team's 26-year postseason drought.
Wednesday night, he strapped the team to his back and carried them another step closer.
Making his second consecutive start on short rest, Sabathia was downright masterful, allowing just a run on five hits in seven innings of work as the Brewers beat the Pirates, 4-2, in front of 31,164 towel-waving fans at Miller Park.
The burly left-hander threw 107 pitches and struck out 11 Pirates batters. For most people, it would be considered an extraordinary effort. For Brewers interim manager Dale Sveum, it was just another day's work from his staff ace; the kind of work that makes the July trade with Cleveland a watershed moment in team history.
"You hope to God that you get to the playoffs and make that thing really the best trade of all time," said Sveum. "He has catapulted us into this position. There's not enough you can say about that guy."
The victory, coupled with the Mets' 9-6, 10-inning loss to the Cubs, drew the Brewers even in the National League Wild Card race with just four games to play.
Sabathia has pitched twice in the last nine days and, with playoff hopes on the line, is ready to take the ball again on Sunday if it means clinching a postseason berth.
"If it matters, I want to pitch," he said. "No matter how many days rest, I feel like I'll be out there. Whatever it takes right now to get us in the playoffs is what I'll do.
"You only get a certain amount of opportunities to get into the playoffs and win a championship, and that's what I'm trying to do."
Sveum was in the middle of his post-game press conference when Chicago's Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer to put Chicago up by three.
"Awesome," Sveum said. "Way to go, Rammie!"
In the clubhouse, players gathered around televisions to watch the Mets go down in the ninth and cheers broke out when the game ended.
"We're still breathing," Sabathia said.
Early on, the fatigue factor looked like it would take its toll on Sabathia. He needed 28 pitches to get out of the first inning. He loaded the bases with one out before striking out Adam LaRoche and Steve Pearce to escape unscathed.
"I just pounded strikes," Sabathia said. "It was something I hadn't done since my first couple starts here. Throwing first-pitch strikes helped out a lot."
Sabathia settled down after that, allowing just two more hits - both in the third inning - and a walk before giving way to Eric Gagne in the eighth inning. Sveum considered puling Sabathia in the sixth - he sent Craig Counsell in to pinch-hit, but Jason Kendall flew out to center to end the inning - but decided to let Sabathia go out for one more inning.
"You could see it in his eyes," said Sveum. "He knew he was going to go one more inning. The guy is 6-foot-8. He might pinch my neck off."
Feeling the adrenaline rush from a playoff race, Sabathia had no intention of calling it a day.
"There was no way I was giving him the ball after that sixth inning," Sabathia said. "I just felt good and like I could get one more inning."
He improved to 10-2 since coming to Milwaukee on July 8. The Brewers are 13-3 in games he's started.
Sabathia's outing supported an offense that couldn't get much done against Maholm, who had flustered the Brewers all season long.
While he allowed just the two hits, Milwaukee batters worked the lefty for six of their nine walks. They made the most of the free passes and started playing small-ball, using sacrifices and well-timed bunts to manufacture runs.
A pair of bases-loaded walks in the fourth inning put the Brewers ahead.
"We're not really accustomed to winning like that," Sveum said.
Prince Fielder extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI single in the fourth inning while Rickie Weeks, making just his third start since Sveum took over as manager, walked three times.
In order to get the ball back to Sabathia on Sunday, the Brewers will have their work cut out for them. Yovani Gallardo will make his first appearance since tearing his ACL in May tonight in the series finale with the Pirates, while Jeff Suppan will start against the Cubs Friday night.
Saturday's starter is still unclear; Ben Sheets is tentatively slated to take the mound, but his availability is doubtful. If Sheets can't go, Dave Bush will start on short rest against Chicago and if the playoffs are still on the line, Sabathia will go again on Sunday.
"If it's tied or whatever, you'll probably see the best pitcher in baseball go out there," said Sveum. "I don't think I'd be able to give it to anybody else."
NOTES: Wednesday's crowd of 31,164 brought the season attendance to 2,893,685, a new franchise record. ... J.J. Hardy's seven-game hitting streak was snapped. ... Fielder is hitting .407 (22-for-54) during his streak. ... The Brewers beat Pittsburgh for the 11th consecutive time this season.
