Reflecting on what could be one of the most memorable wins of the 2005 season, Brewers manager Ned Yost applauded the impact of reliever Matt Wise and his two flawless frames Friday night.

"It doesn't get any better than that," Yost said. "He just really shut down anything they had going on, any hopes of rallying and tying that game up."

In 6 2/3 innings since returning from a strained intercostal muscle when rosters expanded in September, Wise has allowed one earned run on three hits, but his most impressive outing came Friday against the Cardinals. Wise mowed through the six batters he faced, striking out three and allowing nothing in only 20 pitches -- 16 of which were strikes.

In a wacky game that had seen 13 combined runs in the previous three innings, Wise introduced stability to the contest and set the table neatly for Derrick Turnbow's 34th save.

"That's probably in the top two or three [personal outings this year]," Wise said. "Once we got the lead for [starter Chris] Capuano, it's pretty significant for him. I was taking it pitch by pitch and out by out, making sure we got to Turnbow and got Cappy the win."

On the year, Wise holds a 4-4 record and a 3.25 ERA, and he appears healed since the injury, though he admits he doesn't feel 100 percent.

"I feel like I'm kind of in late Spring Training; my arm strength isn't all the way back yet," he said. "It's getting better. I just have to grin and bear it for the next two weeks."

The outcome gave Capuano his 18th win, two shy of the all-important 20-win mark with two potential starts remaining. It also solidified a comeback victory that featured seven unanswered Brewers runs and a defeat of potential National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter, who last lost June 8 against Boston.

"He's the Brady of the pitching staff," Yost said of Capuano in a reference to outfielder Brady Clark. "He's real focused, real determined. He knows he's the right guy to be out on that mound. It's just a matter of getting ahead in the count."

Justin Lehr was available in the sixth inning Friday, when Yost paid Capuano a visit with a warning that he was seeing his final batter in the person of Mark Grudzielanek, one batter after Capuano issued his eighth walk and put two on with two out in a tie ballgame.

"He said, 'I can get this guy,' and I said, 'No kidding, I know you can get this guy. What you need to do is get him and bear down,'" Yost said. "'I want you to get out of this inning so when we get in the dugout, we can get you some runs.'

"Twenty wins is a wonderful accomplishment, and I want him to have the opportunity to achieve that goal. I was doing everything I could to get him through that inning so we could score, hoping to get him the 18th win. But I wasn't going to go much further."

Rest for the weary: Yost admitted his reasoning for holding Rickie Weeks out of the lineup Saturday was to grant the rookie second baseman a mental rest.

"He's thinking about it too much every time a ground ball comes his way," Yost said of Weeks. "It's not even a rest, just a mental day."

Weeks committed his 20th error Friday before departing, but Yost said he thought the much-ballyhooed struggles were "a big ado about nothing."

"Every young player makes mistakes," Yost said. "He's going to be an All-Star-caliber second baseman, there's no doubt in my mind. It's going to take time for a kid that has played really just two years in the Minor Leagues. He needs to develop on the job."

In another lineup matter, Chad Moeller also started behind the plate on Saturday, though Yost said Damian Miller could easily play, one night after leaving the game early with knee soreness.

Schedule released: The tentative 2006 Brewers schedule was officially released on Saturday, and the team will open the season at home for the first time in a decade, beginning Monday, April 3, against Pittsburgh.

Glimpse into the future: Angel Salome and Lorenzo Cain were on hand during batting practice Saturday, having completed standout seasons at their respective Minor League levels.

Cain was named Arizona League Player of the Year as a member of the rookie-league Arizona Brewers, and Salome earned Pioneer League Player of the Year honors for his work with the rookie-league Helena Brewers. The organization held a luncheon before the game, honoring those players as well as Robin Yount Award winners for organizational players of the year.

Nelson Cruz, now with the big-league team, earned the organizational player of the year honor after tearing up the Double-A Southern League and helping the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to the Pacific Coast League title. Tim Dillard, who starred for Advanced Class A Brevard County, earned pitcher of the year.

Nashville media relations director Doug Scopel was on hand before the game to fit players who spent at least a month with Nashville for their championship rings, and a trophy commemorating the accomplishment was on display before Saturday's game in the clubhouse. Thirteen members of the current roster saw at least some time with Triple-A this year, including infielder Jeff Cirillo on rehab assignment and Saturday's starting pitcher, Gary Glover.

On deck: The National League Central champs will make their last appearance at Miller Park on Sunday, sending Jeff Suppan (15-10, 3.72 ERA) to oppose lefty Doug Davis (11-10, 3.91 ERA).