Rockies 3, Brewers 2

by TheJay on Jun 9, 2009 9:56 PM CDT

W: Jason Hammel (3-3)
L: Todd Coffey (1-1)
S: Huston Street (10)

MVP: Mitch Stetter (+.096)
LVP: Todd Coffey (-.274)

In a game that started out overshadowed by the draft, the Brewers started with a bang. Craig Counsell led off the bottom of the 1st with a triple to center field and JJ Hardy promptly drove him in with an RBI groundout. In the second, Mat Gamel hit a booming home run to straightaway center, his first round-tripper in Miller Park. Meanwhile Braden Looper hummed along on the mound, allowing five hits while striking out seven in the first six innings.

Looper, having thrown 87 pitches, came in to start the seventh and gave up back-to-back doubles. Mark DiFelice, back from bereavement leave, got Chris Ianetta to pop up for the first out of the inning. After Rockies lefty Seth Smith was announced, Ken Macha brought sinkerballer Todd Coffey into the game, hoping for a ground ball. A walk, line drive double, and sacrifice fly later, the score was 3-2. Lefty Mitch Stetter then entered the game and struck out Todd Helton on three pitches.

The bottom of the Brewers offense couldn't muster a rally in the seventh, setting the stage for Mitch Stetter to strike out the side around a two-out single in the 8th. Manny Corpas retired the Brewers in order in the bottom half of the inning. Seth McClung pitched the ninth, inducing speedster Dexter Fowler's first career GIDP. Huston Street retired Prince Fielder, Mike Cameron and pinch-hitter Frank Catalanotto to close out the victory. The Rockies retired the final 16 Brewers batters of the game.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

This pretty much sums up the game too:

"If lovin’ Braun is wrong, I want to be a repeat offender!"

RIP Nick Adenhart - Stop Drunk Driving

by kirbir on Jun 9, 2009 10:00 PM CDT reply actions

Fun summer

on June 10 there will be 4 teams within 2.5 games of first in the division.

"He had some firsts," said Brewers manager Ken Macha. "His first homer, his first Major League start, his first error and my first gray hair."

by molitorfan on Jun 9, 2009 10:05 PM CDT reply actions

i really don't want to be an armchair manager but

i’m kinda at a loss as to why macha turned to coffey and not stetter with his counter to a left handed pinch hitter.

by sowingwildoats on Jun 9, 2009 10:25 PM CDT reply actions

My guess...

My guess would be that Macha was saving Stetter for the 8th inning and the Helton-Haupe-Stewart run of at-bats still coming, as well as for other lefty ABs tomorrow and Thursday.

As it turned out, Stetter came in for Helton, but in the 7th, and threw 20 pitches, so maybe it wasn’t the best plan after all….

by robertearle on Jun 10, 2009 1:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Well

The Rockies could easily put up one of their righthanded bench guys to hit for their lefty pinch hitter. Then Stetter is forced to pitch to a righty with a switch hitter and righty to follow. Rather than use Stetter against three righties, Macha gambled that Coffey could get a ground ball to save the run or at least get out of the inning with the game tied. If he had been able to do that, Stetter would have been available to pitch to the three lefties at the heart of the Rockies order with a lead or the game tied in the 8th. As it turned out, Coffey couldn’t get two outs and Stetter wound up pitching to the middle of the order anyway.

"If lovin’ Braun is wrong, I want to be a repeat offender!"

RIP Nick Adenhart - Stop Drunk Driving

by kirbir on Jun 10, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

Makes sense about saving Stetter for the string of lefties coming up later and hoping Coffey induces a ground ball. I think it’s hindsight for others to blame Macha for the decision after it didn’t work.

My only qualm is that both Difelice and Coffey allow +.300 batting averages against lefties, while Stetter has allowed a .226 career batting average against righties.

by oconnobe on Jun 10, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	23	19	.547	0	Won 1
Cincinnati Red Reporter	22	19	.536	0.5	Won 3
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	20	22	.476	3	Won 1
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	19	23	.452	4	Won 1
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	17	25	.404	6	Lost 1
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	15	27	.357	8	Lost 7