Road offense reemerges as Brewers beat Padres 5-2

W: Yovani Gallardo (5-2)
L: Dustin Moseley (1-6)
S: John Axford (10)

HR: Ryan Ludwick (8)

MVP: Mark Kotsay (+.384)
LVP: Rickie Weeks (-.129)

Win Expectancy Graph


I know this is going to be hard to believe, but the Brewers actually had hits with runners in scoring position tonight. And yes, they are on the road.

For the first few innings, it was the same old road Brewers; runners getting on base, but never scoring. They were able to get one across in the fourth when, of all people, Mark Kotsay doubled to drive in Prince Fielder. There were several well hit balls today by the Brewers that would have been home runs in Miller Park, but wound up as doubles or triples tonight.

The Padres got two back in the bottom of that inning when Ryan Ludwick crushed a ball to left field for a two-run homer, giving the Padres a 2-1 lead. Those two runs were the only runs that Yovani Gallardo allowed tonight. Yo was by no means dominant, but he did pitch 6 solid innings, striking out nine Padres and walking three.

In the sixth is was Mark Kotsay again who drove in Fielder with his second double on the night, tying the game at 2-2. With two on, Padres manager Bud Black decided to intentionally walk Yuniesky Betancourt to face Jonathan Lucroy. But that plan backfired when Lucroy was hit by the very first pitch, giving the Crew a 3-2 lead. But they weren't done there! No! In the seventh inning they tacked on two more, when Ryan Braun double to score Corey Hart (who had just tripled) and when Fielder singled to drive in Braun.

Marco Estrada, LaTroy Hawkins, and John Axford followed Gallardo and each pitched a scoreless inning.

Mark Kotsay was not the only Brewer to have a nice day offensively. He and Corey Hart both collected three hits. Fielder also reached base three times. Jonathan Lucroy, however, did not. He went hitless on the night, thus ending his hitting streak at eight games.