More photos » by Jeff Curry - AP

Chris Narveson throws during the fourth inning Sunday.

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W: Trevor Hoffman (3-2)
L: Todd Wellemeyer (7-10)
S: John Axford (1)

HR: Prince Fielder 2 (46)

MVP: Prince Fielder (+.482)
LVP: Chris Smith (-.329)

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They certainly made the last one interesting.

Powered by Prince Fielder's two home runs, including a go-ahead shot in the ninth, the Brewers appeared to be ready to complete a three game sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis, and untuck one final time for 2009. Fielder's three hits in the game left him with a 2009 batting average of .2994, but also in sole possession of second place on the franchise list for most home runs in a season, with 46.

Alas, it was almost all for naught, as the Cardinals rallied to tie the game on Chris Smith in the eighth and again on Trevor Hoffman in the bottom of the ninth, costing him his 38th save and sending the game to extra innings. Then, in the tenth, Jody Gerut drove in the winning run on an infield single, scoring Alcides Escobar with the winning run. Ryan Braun's RBI double drove in another run as the Cardinals imploded defensively,

Jeff Suppan started today's game and went just two innings, allowing one run on two hits, but Chris Narveson picked things up from there, allowing just one additional run over 4.1 innings of work, giving the Brewers an opportunity to run out to a 6-1 lead. With Hoffman already having pitched, John Axford pitched a scoreless tenth to pick up his first major league save.

W: Braden Looper (14-7)
L: Kyle McClellan (4-4)

HR: None

MVP: Ryan Braun (+.273)
LVP: Braden Looper (-.271)

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Where was this two months ago?

For the first six innings, it looked like more of the same for the Brewers tonight, as they fell behind 6-0 and looked lifeless against Adam Wainwright, who was cruising towards his 20th win, which likely would have made him the only major leaguer this season to reach that mark.

Then, all of a sudden in the seventh, the Brewer bats came to life and the Cardinals completely imploded. From the top of the sixth on, the Brewers scored 12 unanswered runs, partially fueled by five Cardinal wild pitches and one passed ball, and quickly turned a laugher for the Cardinals into a blowout victory for the Brewers.

Ryan Braun went 2-for-5 in the game, picking up hits #198 and 199 on the season. Felipe Lopez, Alcides Escobar, Craig Counsell and Jody Gerut all also had multiple hits. Prince Fielder went 0-for-2 but walked three times.

The Brewer bats covered up another awful performance from Braden Looper, who allowed six earned runs on ten hits in six innings of work tonight, and trailed 6-1 when he was pinch hit for. Not only did the Brewer bats save Looper from a loss once again, they rallied just in time to get him his 14th win. Todd Coffey, Claudio Vargas and Trevor Hoffman each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the game.

Looper did manage to get through six innings without allowing a home run, so he'll finish the season with 39.

W: Aaron Cook (11-6)
L: Manny Parra (11-11)

HR: Ryan Braun (31), Brad Hawpe (22)

MVP: Prince Fielder (+.036)
LVP: Manny Parra (-.275)

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Manny Parra...*sigh.*

This one was over early, as Manny Parra allowed five earned runs on six hits and five walks in just 2.2 innings, including walking Aaron Cook, the opposing pitcher, with the bases loaded, TWICE. (John Axford would later do it a third time.)

At the plate, the Brewers managed just five hits, one of them being a solo home run by Ryan Braun. Prince Fielder and Mike Cameron (who finished with two doubles) reached in the ninth to drive in a second run and become the only Brewers to reach base twice in the game as the Brewers managed just one walk and an HBP to go with those hits.

With the loss, the Brewers clinched a losing season and the Rockies clinched the NL Wild Card.

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Chris Narveson works against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning Tuesday. I missed most of his outing: Did I miss anything?

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W: Matt Belisle (3-1)
L: David Weathers (4-6)

HR:Jason Kendall (2) Chris Iannetta (16)

MVP: Jason Kendall (+.310)
LVP: David Weathers (-.357)

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The Brewers managed some late inning heroics to extend tonight's game, but couldn't quite finish the job.

A 5-2 game suddenly got interesting with one out in the ninth, when Mike Cameron drew a walk, J.J. Hardy singled and Jason Kendall (of all people) tied the game with a three run shot. Claudio Vargas was able to shut the Rockies down in the ninth and send the game to extra innings. He also pitched a scoreless tenth.

In the eleventh, though, David Weathers retired one batter before allowing Chris Iannetta to hit a walk-off two run shot.

I honestly didn't pay a whole lot of attention to tonight's game before the eighth inning or so, but here are the things that jumped out at me:

• Chris Narveson looked pretty good until crashing in the sixth. He finished the night with three earned runs allowed on five hits in five innings, and was in line for the loss until Kendall's home run took him off the hook. He also picked up his first major league hit
  
• Ryan Braun had two hits in the game to reach 194 on the season. He now needs six more in the Brewers' five remaining games to reach 200.

Anything relevant I missed? Let me know in the comments.

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

Dave Bush: FAIL.

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W: Joe Blanton (12-7)
L: Dave Bush (5-9)
S: Ryan Madson (9)

HR: Mike Cameron (23), Mat Gamel (5), Jimmy Rollins (21)

MVP: Ryan Braun (+.156)
LVP: Dave Bush (-.214)

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The Brewers did their best to make a game of it today, but were doomed once again by a terrible performance from their starting pitcher.

Today it was Dave Bush, who allowed three extra base hits in the first inning en route to a short 4.1 inning outing where he allowed five earned runs on nine hits and a walk. From there, four Brewer pitchers held the Phillies to one run over the remaining 4.2 innings, but the Brewer bats fell just short.

The Brewers scored four runs in the sixth to make a game of it, led by Mat Gamel's three run home run to bring the Brewers within two, but the bats were done after that. The Brewers had a runner on first with two outs in the eighth, but Corey Hart was picked off first to end the inning. Hart was on base four times in the game on two hits and two walks, but scored just one run.

Ryan Braun also went 3-for-5, but the Brewers' starting 4-6 batters (Prince Fielder, Casey McGehee and Mike Cameron) went a combined 2-for-11, as the Brewers left ten men on base. With the loss, the Brewers went 40-41 at home this season, their first losing home campaign since 2004.

More photos » by Darren Hauck - AP

Ryan Braun is congratulated by his team mates after hitting a walk off two run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the ninth inning.

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W: Trevor Hoffman (2-2)
L: Tyler Walker (2-1)

HR: Ryan Braun (30), Paul Bako (3), Ryan Howard (43)

MVP: Ryan Braun (+.351)
LVP: Braden Looper(-.219)

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The game didn't start off very well. Braden Looper was, well, Braden Looper; allowing the Phillies to get out to a 4-run lead by the third inning. Looper added to his franchise record in home runs allowed by giving up two more tonight, increasing his total to 39. Luckily, the offense, along with some interesting Phillies defense, was able to pick him up.

The Brewers got on the board in the bottom of the third when Ryan Braun drove in Felipe Lopez with a single and Prince Fielder drove in Craig Counsell with a sac fly. In the next inning, Lopez drove in J.J. Hardy with an RBI ground-out to bring the Brewers within one run.

Braden Looper gave up his second homer of the game to Ryan Howard in the fifth, giving the Phillies a 5-3 lead. The Brewers sixth inning was a perfect example of the "hit 'em were they ain't" philosophy." With two outs Jason Bourgeois walked and Felipe Lopez hit a ground rule double just inside the foul line. Craig Counsell followed with a blooper misplayed by Jimmy Rollins, which scored both Bourgeois and Lopez.

The games remained tied ad 5-5 through the eigth inning. Trevor Hoffman pitched a perfect inning which set the stage for the big boys in the Brewers line-up. Counsell led off with a single and Ryan Braun finally hit his 30th home run to get the Crew the W. 

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

Ryan Braun can't come up with a ball hit to the wall by Ben Francisco during the fourth inning Thursday.

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W: J.A. Happ (11-4)
L: Jeff Suppan (7-11)

HR: Jimmy Rollins (20)

MVP: Jason Kendall (+.080)
LVP: Jeff Suppan (-.362)

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Jeff Suppan reminded us all that he's still Jeff Suppan tonight, allowing 14 baserunners and eight runs in 4.1 innings and taking the Brewers out of the game early for the third time in four nights.

From there, the bright spots were few and far between:

• Jason Kendall had two hits, including a triple, and was hit by a pitch. 
• Carlos Villanueva pitched well in relief, pitching two perfect innings and striking out four.
  
• John Axford needed just seven pitches to retire the side in the ninth.

Those are your silver linings, I guess. Jody Gerut also came inches from a grand slam in the eighth inning, but was robbed at the wall.

With the loss, the Brewers dropped to 38-40 on the season at home, meaning they'll need to sweep the remaining three games in the series to avoid posting a losing record in 2009 at Miller Park.

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

Chris Narveson throws during the first inning Wednesday.

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W: Chris Narveson (2-0)
L: Jeff Samardzija (1-3)
S: Trevor Hoffman (35)

HR: Prince Fielder (42), Jody Gerut (9), Jeff Samardzija (1)

MVP: Chris Narveson (+.190)
LVP: Jason Kendall (-.054)

Win Expectancy Graph
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If you missed tonight's game, you missed one of 2009's most unlikely pitchers' duels.

Jeff Samardzija was pretty good for the Cubs, holding the Brewers hitless for the first two innings before the Brewer batters figured him out a bit, and Prince Fielder and Jody Gerut took him deep. He also connected for his first major league hit, a second-deck home run to right.

Chris Narveson, though, was that much better: He only needed 70 pitches to get through 5 2/3 innings, allowed just one earned run (Samardzija's home run), walked none and struck out ten. Amazingly, he was pulled with two outs in the sixth inning after just 70 pitches.

At the plate, Jody Gerut remained hot, going 1-for-4 with his ninth home run, and Prince Fielder supplied the other two runs with a homer in the fourth. The Brewers managed just five hits in the game, and the 5-9 hitters combined to go 1-for-14.