Thursday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while taping over a logo.

If you went to bed early last night (and I'm a little embarrassed to admit I did) then you missed another relatively rare Brewer road victory, assuring a .500 road trip. Yovani Gallardo was solid if unspectacular again last night, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings and striking out a season high nine. Brew Gritt notes that Gallardo is on pace for a career high 18 wins this season (as is Shaun Marcum, by the way). Gallardo has a 1.80 ERA over his last four starts.

The Brewers also discovered a new way to score runs on the road last night: Getting hit by pitches. Prince Fielder was hit for the 73rd time in his career in the first inning, and Jonathan Lucroy drove in the game winning run by getting hit with the bases loaded in the sixth. Plunk Everyone notes that it was the 50th RBI HBP in Brewer history.

Meanwhile, the Padres had a night that will sound familiar to Brewer fans, as they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded eleven baserunners in the game. Marco Estrada, LaTroy Hawkins and John Axford each allowed two baserunners during their innings of work, but managed to escape without allowing a run.

Other notes from the field:

• Axford's save came in his PETCO Park debut.
• Mark Kotsay, Ryan Ludwick and Corey Hart are leading FanGraphs' Star of the Game Voting.
• Thanks to BrewHaHeather for staying up late to get you this transcript of Ron Roenicke's postgame comments.
• Rubie Q is using baserunning outs to help you learn to count.
  

It worked out this time, but this likely doesn't bode well for the future: Mark Kotsay started in center field last night and went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. He played in place of Carlos Gomez, who Jack Moore of Disciples of Uecker noted is becoming a human highlight reel.

Of course, Kotsay might only be keeping the seat warm until Nyjer Morgan is ready to return. Morgan still isn't ready to come off the DL, but he's using the spare time to start his own official Twitter feed (@TheRealTPlush). He wasted no time interacting with @Tony_Plush and ripping a hole in the space-time continuum.

Last night's win brought the Brewers back to within a game of .500 entering play tonight. Charlie Wilmoth of SB Nation Pittsburgh says they're still a candidate to contend in the NL Central. Jon Star of MLB.com has a preview of tonight's series finale in San Diego.

When the Brewers return home tomorrow, Zack Greinke will return to the mound. Alex Remington of Big League Stew has a look at his last outing in this edition of Slumpbot .200.

In the minors:

• Gord Ash has clarified the Brewers' plans for Mark Rogers a bit. Rogers was demoted to Brevard County this week, and Ash told reporters that he's expected to make 4-5 starts there and a few in AA before returning to Nashville.
• Wisconsin split a doubleheader against Beloit yesterday, and Rattler Radio has video highlights of both games. Hopefully Chris Mehring is feeling better today, because they've got another doubleheader scheduled tonight.
• Both Doug Melvin and Packers GM Ted Thompson were in attendance at the doubleheader. I noticed Melvin but wouldn't be able to pick Thompson out of a lineup.
• D'Vontrey Richardson finally made an out yesterday for Brevard County. He went 6-for-6 on Tuesday and reached base in his first three PAs on Wednesday.

Here's something that surprised me this morning: PETA surveyed the food offerings at major league ballparks and ranked Miller Park as baseball's tenth most vegetarian-friendly. (h/t Craig Calcaterra)

Around baseball:

Cardinals: Placed Nick Punto on the DL with a right forearm flexor strain.
Orioles: Infielder Cesar Izturis needs elbow surgery and will be out 6-8 weeks.
Royals: Designated pitcher Kanekoa Texeira for assignment.

You already know about Punto and all of the Cardinals' other injury concerns if you've read this morning's edition of Around the NL Central. Check it out if you haven't.

Elsewhere in the NL Central: With the Astros' sale pending and potential regime change in the front office with the Cubs, Bradley Woodrum of FanGraphs says changes could be on the horizon for the NL Central, long viewed as one of baseball's worst divisions.

Today in former Brewers:

• Trevor Hoffman stopped by the Brewer clubhouse and the FS Wisconsin broadcast booth last night to talk about life as a retired player.
• MLB Trade Rumors has Todd Coffey on their list of non-tendered players who are contributing to their new teams. Coffey has a 2.30 ERA in 15 appearances for the Nationals.
• Meanwhile, Seth McClung and Claudio Vargas are going to face off tonight in AAA.
• Bob Wickman is serving as the interim baseball coach at River Valley High School.
• Eddie Perez, Willie Randolph, Rick Cerone and Mike Lamb are on the B-Ref Blog's list of players with at least three postseason home runs but less than 80 regular season homers.
• It's also Cerone's birthday today.

If it felt like yesterday's five run Brewer game was an outburst of offense, it's because it was: All 30 major league teams were in action last night but just 95 runs were scored, the fifth lowest total on a 15 game day since 1998.

This is easily my favorite and the most bizarre news story today: Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick's World Series ring, which was stolen during the World Series, has been recovered in a swamp.

Now someone will probably turn "Found In The Swamp Day" into a minor league event. Baseball America has a list of Tuesday night's minor league promotions.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make more Viagra marshmallows.

Drink up.