Manny Parra is starting to figure things out, which only will make it tougher for opponents of the Brewers.
Parra, a 25-year-old left-hander, is in his first full season in the major leagues. He has won each of his last six starts, and is 7-0 with a 3.03 ERA over his last 10. That already sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Well, catcher Jason Kendall said it could get even better after Parra shut out Minnesota for seven innings Saturday night in a 5-1 victory.
"I think it's just him getting confidence," said Kendall. "I think with all the starters, they kind of feed off each other. I think he's getting more confidence every time he goes out and knows he's good.
"He's going to be here, knock on wood, for a long time. He's got dominating stuff. He's one of those guys that when he comes to the ballpark, he's got a chance to go nine innings."
To do that, Parra is going to have to cut down on his walks. He has issued 14 free passes in his last 19 innings, a trend he knows can't continue.
"It has been something I've battled all year, getting ahead of guys," he said. "One thing I do know is when I don't (walk hitters), I'll have success and I'll go deeper into games than I am right now."
Which is bad news for the enemy.
TWINS 5, BREWERS 0: RHP Ben Sheets finally met his match on the road. The Brewers managed only three hits off Twins RHP Kevin Slowey in the shutout loss that gave Minnesota the series, 2-1. The Twins also took two of three from the Brewers in Milwaukee in the regional rivalry. Sheets was 6-0 in 10 road starts before losing to the Twins. All five runs he surrendered came with two outs, and most of the key hits were on curveballs. Sheets blanked the Twins for four innings but started hanging his curveball in the middle innings.
