BC-BBN–Cardinals-Brewers,0344

Brewers 3, Cardinals 1

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Chris Saenz allowed two hits over six innings to win his major league debut, leading the Milwaukee Brewers over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 Saturday.

Saenz, a 22-year-old right-hander, struck out seven and walked three. He was brought up Friday from Double-A Huntsville when Chris Capuano was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a leg injury. The Brewers didn’t have an emergency starter available because their bullpen was worn out during Thursday’s 15-inning loss to Arizona.

Saenz, 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts for Huntsville, worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, then pitched with command until leaving with a runner on in the seventh. He threw 93 pitches, 58 for strikes

Saenz struck out Bo Hart to start the game, gave up a single to Ray Lankford, then retired Albert Pujols on a foulout. Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen walked, and Edgar Renteria hit an inning-ending flyout.

The only runner Saenz allowed to reach in the next five innings was Pujols, who was hit by a pitch in the third and singled in the sixth.

Jeff Bennett relieved after Saenz walked Renteria to start the seventh and got out of the inning.

Luis Vizcaino threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the eighth. Dan Kolb, Milwaukee’s fifth pitcher, had a perfect ninth for his fifth save in as many chances, completing a five-hitter.

Woody Williams (0-2) allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, and struck out five. On April 7, he made his season debut against the Brewers and didn’t get a decision.

Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the first on Junior Spivey’s run-scoring single and Lyle Overbay’s sacrifice fly. Scott Podsednik tripled leading off the eighth and scored on a wild pitch by Julian Tavarez.

Notes: Brewers SS Bill Hall started for Craig Counsell. It was the third start for Hall, who took four stitches in his right leg after getting spiked during Thursday’s game. … Hart struck out three times against Saenz.

AP-ES-04-24-04 1714EDT