Some Brewers fans wondered if reliever Guillermo Mota would be shown the door when starter Jeff Suppan came off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

Instead, Mota survived a possible ax and the Brewers took the easy way out, optioning left-handed reliever Mitch Stetter to Class AAA Nashville. Stetter, for one, wasn't surprised.

"I saw the writing on the wall," he said. "You know in the back of your mind, it could be you."

This is the second time this season Stetter has been optioned to Nashville. The first time, he lost his control, started walking hitters and practically forced the move.

This time, Stetter was much better, going 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA. But the numbers worked against him, as did the fact that he had a remaining minor league option.

For now, Brian Shouse will hold the fort as the only left-hander in the bullpen.

"There weren't a lot of things we could do," manager Ned Yost said. "Of course, it changes things, but it's not anything that's unmanageable. You take what you've got and you go."

Stetter stayed with the team Tuesday but will head for Nashville on Wednesday.

"They told me to stay ready, and I would be back in September, if not sooner," he said.

BREWERS 4, CARDINALS 3: 3B Bill Hall is showing why he no longer is in a platoon with Russell Branyan. Hall had been playing vs. left-handers and Branyan vs. right-handers, but Hall has been so hot in July, manager Ned Yost abandoned that platoon. Hall snapped a 3-3 tie for the second consecutive night to take care of the Cardinals. The previous night, Hall homered to lead off the 10th in a 6-3 victory. This time, he homered in the ninth. Jeff Suppan, in his first game off the disabled list, allowed two runs in the first inning and another run in the third but stopped it there in a gritty seven-inning outing.

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