W: Collin Balester (1-1)
L: Carlos Villanueva (2-8)

HR: Ryan Braun (21), Nyjer Morgan (3), Adam Dunn (26), Cristian Guzman (5)

MVP: J.J. Hardy (+.143)
LVP: Carlos Villanueva (-.299)

Win Expectancy Graph
SBNation Coverage

Carlos Villanueva's first start wasn't a total loss, as he allowed a leadoff home run to Nyjer Morgan, then settled down before beginning to tire and allowing four runs in the fourth with an assist from Corey Hart, who dropped a sliding catch attempt that could have led to a double play.

He was followed to the mound by Tim Dillard, who had a similar outing, walking the tightrope and surviving situations with runners on in the fifth, sixth and seventh before surrendering a three run home run to Cristian Guzman in the eighth. All told, the two had the following lines:

Villanueva: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Dillard: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K

But, both were outpitched by Collin Balester, who picked up his first win of 2009, allowing just two runs on five hits and no walks in six innings. The Brewers only managed seven hits in the game but three of them came off the bat of J.J. Hardy, who had two singles and an RBI double, and two came from Ryan Braun, who tripled and homered.