Series Preview #8: The Brewers' Best Games Against The Reds

This is the second meeting between the Brewers and the Reds, so we've already talked to Red Reporter once this season. For something different this time around, let's take a look at the best performances in Brewer history against the Reds:

5) Eric Young, July 4, 2002: +.594 WPA

There weren't a whole lot of bright spots for the 2002 Crew, which set a franchise record with 106 losses. But on the Fourth of July Eric Young gave Milwaukee something to cheer about. He was already 1-for-3 with a walk when he stepped to the plate as the Brewers' last hope: There were two outs in the ninth against Reds closer Danny Graves, with runners on first and second. On the first pitch, Young doubled to left center to drive home both Paul Bako and Alex Sanchez. Mike Dejean came in for the save and the Brewers took the game, 5-4.

Follow the jump for the rest.

4) Jeffrey Hammonds, July 5, 2002: +.608 WPA

A day after Eric Young's heroics, an unlikely hero one-upped him. Hammonds was one of the bigger free agent busts in Brewer history but on this single day he earned his paycheck, going 3-for-4 with a walk, double and a home run and driving in four. The homer gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead in the third, the double gave them a 5-4 lead in the fifth, and a single put the tying run on base in the ninth. Unfortunately, the Brewers lost 8-6 anyway.

3) Bill Hall, July 3, 2006: +.635 WPA

If a team had Bill Hall and played 162 games each season against the Reds, he would be a surefire Hall of Famer. On this day the Brewer bats were quiet for five innings, but Hall brought them to life late as the Brewers scored seven runs in the final four innings to beat the Reds 8-6. Hall went 4-for-5 with a double and a home run in the game, scoring three times. His final run came on Carlos Lee's walkoff single.

2) Eddie Perez, May 17, 2003: +.770 WPA

As a career .253/.297/.390 hitter, Eddie Perez is most likely better known for being Greg Maddux's longtime personal catcher than he is for hitting game-winning home runs. He did, however, hit 11 home runs as the Brewers' primary catcher in 2003 and none were bigger than this one. Perez was 0-for-3 when he came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Brewers trailing 6-5, and hit a three run bomb to secure an 8-6 walkoff victory.

1) Bill Hall, April 27, 2004: +.899 WPA

2004 was Hall's first season as a major league regular, and it didn't get off to a great start. Through 11 games he was hitting just .208/.240/.208. It had been three days since he'd appeared in a game when he was called upon to pinch hit in the ninth against Reds closer Danny Graves, with the Brewers trailing 8-7. 

There was a runner on first base: Trent Durrington had just been called in to pinch run for Chad Moeller, who had hit for the cycle in the game. As it turns out the Brewers wouldn't need the speed: Hall homered on the third pitch of the at bat to give the Brewers a 9-8 walkoff victory.

Maybe the Astros can send Hall to Milwaukee for a few days this week.