Box Score
The Miller Park Magic Carpet Ride is still fully operational.
The Brewers have won their past four games despite scoring only seven earned runs. They had a similar stretch of futility back in May during what Tom Haudricourt called "The Great Offensive Drought of 2011." It's amazing what good pitching can do.
The Brewers were able to squeeze out a victory tonight because Yovani Gallardo was in top form. Oustiide of a dicey 2nd inning he completely shut down the Dodgers. On the flip side, Chad Billingsley kept the Brewers off balance and for a while it looked like the Crew's offensive woes were finally going to catch up to them. Sooner or later that will happen, but not tonight.
The Brewers were able to rally in the bottom of the 9th, in part thanks to an extremely rare four-pitch walk to Yuniesky Betancourt, and Mark Kotsay ended the game with a single one the first pitch he saw. The victory was made sweeter thanks to the Pirate topping the Cardinals in 11.
The Brewers are 21 game over .500 and have a 7.0 game lead in the division. If I were a Cardinals fan I would be looking forward to the Rams season opener. But I am not a Rams fan and I know that no lead is safe until the division is clinched. Despite their recent rampage, the Brewers really need Rickie Weeks back in the lineup. Felipe Lopez and Jerry Hairston are capable backups, but they are nowhere near the .272/.346/.478/19 HR player Weeks is. By the way, the Brewers are 16-2 without Weeks in the lineup. Think about that for a second.
Before this home stand started I wrote that 5-2 would be a success. That is a fact and I stand by what I wrote. However, at this point in the season you need every win you can get. I'll be happy with the home stand regardless of what happens the next two games, but, you know, I'd rather the Brewers win the next two games.
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