Brewers 9, Indians 8

W: Mark DiFelice (4-0)
L: Greg Aquino (1-2)
S: Mitch Stetter (1) - first career save

MVP: JJ Hardy (+.231)/Mitch Stetter (+.217)
LVP: Trevor Hoffman (-.437)

Win Expectancy Graph
SB Nation Coverage


The defense backed up Jeff Suppan as the wily old veteran scattered seven hits and three runs over six innings. Meanwhile, the Brewers offense was building a picket fence, scoring one run in the first three innings. JJ Hardy's home run in the 2nd inning was his first since May 8. In the top of the seventh, Bill Hall put the Crew up 4-3 with his first homer since May 14. Back-to-back doubles by Prince Fielder and Corey Hart pushed the lead to three runs. Seth McClung held the Indians scoreless in the seventh before the Brewers added another tally in the top of the eighth. The teams traded runs in the next two half-innings, making it an 8-4 game heading into the ninth.

McClung headed to the mound for a third inning out of the 'pen. Trevor Crowe flied out to start the inning. Jamey Carroll worked a six-pitch walk and Mark DeRosa followed with a double. Since the game was again a save situation (tying run on deck), Trevor Hoffman was summoned from the bullpen. Victor Martinez singled to make it 8-5. Shin-Soo Choo remained a thorn in the Brewers' side, drawing a walk to load the bases. Ryan Garko followed with a double to left-center, plating all three baserunners. The fact Garko was tagged out after rolling his ankle was no solace. Jhonny Peralta ended the inning by flying out to right field. The blown save was Trevor Hoffman's first as a Brewer in 17 save opportunities.

Ryan Braun was replaced by Jody Gerut in the seventh due to lower back tightness, so the Crew was down a bat going into extra innings. Kerry Wood and Mark DiFelice held each team scoreless in the 10th. Ex-Brewer Greg Aquino took the mound for Cleveland in the 11th, retiring Gerut to start the inning. Prince Fielder followed with a single and Corey Hart worked a walk to put two runners on for Mike Cameron. A cross-up led to both runners advancing on a called ball right down the middle. Cameron, 0-5 in the game, was then intentionally walked to set up a double play for Hardy. JJ wouldn't comply, however, instead hitting a deep fly ball to center to score Fielder from third. Mat Gamel drew another walk to load the bases for Bill Hall. Hall flew out on a 3-1 pitch to end the inning.

Mark DiFelice took the mound again in the bottom of the 11th to face the top of the Indians order. A broken-bat grounder to short took care of Jamey Carroll. Mark DeRosa followed with a single to right field. Ken Macha then brought in Mitch Stetter to turn Victor Martinez around. Stetter induced a ground ball but dropped the ball trying to throw too quickly, putting runners on first and second. Shin-Soo Choo fouled off four pitches while working the count full before striking out swinging. Ben Francisco, Ryan Garko's replacement, came up as the Indians' last chance. The count again went full before Stetter recorded yet another strikeout to record his first career save. His last 11 outs have come via the K.

The Brewers sweep a series for the fifth sixth time this season. They improve to 3-0 in extra innings and 2-0 in 11 inning games that last more than four hours and end 9-8.