Avoiding Sweep Would Erase Ugliness of Game 2

The Milwaukee Brewers have been riding so high that the last two days seem catastrophic. Blowing several chances and committing back-to-back errors that led to the Cardinals' only runs resulted in a tough 2–1 loss in Game 1. The Brewers had not lost a game in that fashion in so long that perhaps it looked worse than it probably was.

Game 2 began as a good battle and after driving in the tying run with a laser off the wall, Ryan Braun was rounding third and heading for an electrifying inside-the-park home run when he suddenly collapsed. He tripped again trying to get up as the ball arrived at the catcher. Braun was obviously out of gas after running the equivalent of a football field and was tagged out. Braun had earlier been picked off of second.

What happened next was incredibly surreal. Randy Wolf got ahead in the count on the first batter and tried to come inside on a two-strike pitch, the ball grazed off the hitter’s leg. Next batter, same thing. The next batter got a hit and Cardinals somehow ended up with two runners at second but the throw came into the plate and no outs were recorded.

Wolf induced a ground ball from the next hitter and the throw came how for an out but for some reason catcher George Kottaras double-clutched and did not try to make a throw to first for a double play. Opposing pitcher Jake Westbrook strode to the plate with his .098 batting average and promptly hit his first career home run to left.

Outs on the base paths, no clutch hits, shoddy defense and the hit batters led to an 8 – 3 defeat and all of a sudden the lead is only 8 ½ in the division and Cardinals have some hope.

An 8 ½ game lead on September 1st is still a huge lead and the Brewers can erase much of yesterday’s pain with a win in the series finale this afternoon. They will send Yovani Gallardo to the mound who has been stellar of late. Seven of his last eight starts have been seven innings or more and he was 3 – 1 with 2.06 ERA in five August starts. His no decision was an 8 inning masterpiece against the Dodgers where he only allowed a run but the Brewers lost 2 – 1.

The one loss was on August 11th, against the Cardinals. The 3:10 start should cause some havoc for the hitters today as the shadows will cover home plate while the mound will be showered in beautiful September sunshine. The Cardinals will counter with rookie Brandon Dickson making his first start.

The consecutive home losses to the Cardinals marks only the second time this season the Crew has lost two in a row at home (July 4th & 5th – Arizona). One concern for today might be that a rookie pitcher nobody has ever heard of will be making a start. This group of players has struggled with unknowns in the past.

Even a sweep by the Cardinals would not mean disaster so long as the Brewers immediately right the ship and take care of business in Houston this weekend before heading to St. Louis for the final three meetings between the two teams. By the same token, a win today would erase what St. Louis gained and perhaps aid in the brewers in putting away their rivals.