MILWAUKEE - Everything was working for Ben Sheets on Sunday, even the shadows.
Sheets struck out a franchise-record 18 - the most in the majors in three years - leading the Brewers to a 4-1 victory over the Braves.
"This place, with day games, hitters can't see the ball," Milwaukee catcher Chad Moeller said. "I was proof of that, also." He struck out four times, but it was all the third strikes that hit his mitt that made the game memorable.
"He woke up with phenomenal stuff," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said of Sheets.
It was the most strikeouts by a big leaguer since Arizona's Randy Johnson tied a major-league record with 20 on May 8, 2001, against Cincinnati.
"I'm not a big strikeout guy, so this is all new to me. It's pretty cool, though," said Sheets, whose previous career high was 10 strikeouts against Houston on April 10 and May 5 against Cincinnati.
The previous franchise mark of 14 was set by Moose Haas on April 12, 1978, against the New York Yankees.
Sheets (4-2) threw a three-hitter in his fourth career complete game and struck out six of the last seven batters he faced - including three in the ninth.
He was as efficient as he was effective, throwing just 116 pitches, 91 for strikes. He threw a first-pitch strike to 17 of the first 20 hitters he faced.
"I've seen some pretty good outings, but that's definitely got to be the most impressive," teammate Geoff Jenkins said. "He was just power all day, using his fastball, curveball, just mixing pitches. It seemed like he didn't throw a ball all day."
Sheets struck out every Braves starter except second baseman Nick Green, who made his first major-league start in place of Marcus Giles, who broke his collarbone Saturday night.
