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Suppan makes final showing ahead of Opening Day

PHOENIX — Jeff Suppan’s final tuneup before Opening Day couldn’t have gone much smoother.

Suppan scattered three hits and allowed one run over five innings and the Milwaukee Brewers edged the Chicago White Sox 2-1 Thursday.

After the game, Brewers manager Ken Macha made official what has been assumed for the entire spring—that Suppan will start Milwaukee’s opener Tuesday in San Francisco.

“It’s definitely a big honor,” said Suppan, who had three Opening Day starts as a member of the Kansas City Royals. “I’ve always felt that way anytime I’m given the ball for the opening game and I still feel that way today.”

Suppan finished the spring strong, allowing 10 hits over 17 innings in his final three starts with two walks and 11 strikeouts. He finished with a 3.54 ERA, inflated by a five-run three-inning outing against San Diego on March 12.

“Live every spring I had goals in mind and I feel like I accomplished them regardless of results,” Suppan said.

White Sox starter Gavin Floyd nearly was as sharp as Suppan, allowing two hits and one run in five innings with four walks and five strikeouts. Floyd finished the spring with a 2.42 ERA and gave up only 22 hits in 26 innings.

Wilson Betemit gave Chicago a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double.

Prince Fielder tied the game 1-1 in the fourth with a home run to left-center, his sixth and the team’s 46th in 33 games.

Bill Hall drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth on a single to left.

The Crew finished 14-3-1 in their final 18 Cactus League games and won 20 spring training games for the first time since 1995 (21-18-1).

The Brewers play two more exhibition games over the weekend with the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun was back in the starting lineup after missing a game with a sore left thumb and went 0-for-4. Braun was hit on the thumb while trying to field a ball Tuesday night against San Diego and was held out of the lineup on Wednesday.