Rick Sutcliffe made sure the Cubs’ coaching staff and manager Lou Piniella each had a celebratory beer after Thursday’s game. Sutcliffe was the honorary manager for the Cubs’ 7-4 win over the Brewers at HoHoKam Park.

“A year ago, I had a colonoscopy and found out I had cancer,” Sutcliffe said. “Today, I managed the Cubs.”

Sutcliffe was taking all the credit for the win, but wanted nothing to do with Milton Bradley having to leave in the first with tightness in his quad.

“I just wanted to give him an at-bat,” Sutcliffe said of Bradley. “If there’s anything wrong with him, I’ll be blamed for that.”

The Cubs’ lineup wasn’t exactly loaded with regulars. Aramis Ramirez was the only carryover from the 2008 team.

“I don’t know if you noticed but the lineup had more guys with numbers over 60 than under 60,” Sutcliffe said. “I don’t know if [Ryne] Sandberg could’ve won with that lineup. We found a way to motivate them, didn’t we, Skip?”

Actually, there was only one starter with a number over 60 and that was No. 65, Darwin Barney. He had a hit. Jake Fox helped Sutcliffe, hitting a three-run homer.

“That was your pick to click, wasn’t it?” Piniella said of Fox.

Thursday was Sutcliffe’s last day, which is appropriate since the big redhead never pitched an away game when he played for the Cubs. Friday, the team travels to Surprise.

“We enjoy having him in camp,” Piniella said. “It’s going to be a little more quiet here tomorrow.”

– Carrie Muskat