W: Yovani Gallardo (8-4)
L: Matt Cain (9-2)
HR: Pablo Sandoval (9), J.J. Hardy (7)
MVP: Yovani Gallardo (.249)
LVP: Prince Fielder (-.045)
Win Expectancy Graph
SB Nation Coverage
The game got off on a sour note when Pablo Sandoval hit a solo shot in the top of the first, but the Brewers quickly responded. Craig Counsell had a lead-off triple and scored on Ryan Braun’s double. Braun was then driven in by Casey McGehee’s double, making it 2-1.
The Giants singled in the second, but from there, Gallardo went on auto-pitch, retiring 16 in a row, six via the strikeout, before giving up a ground rule double (on fan interference) and a walk in the seventh inning.
In the meantime, the Brewers kept adding to their lead.
J.J. Hardy got his 500th career hit on a home run to deep center in the third. (Video here.)
In the fifth, Gallardo and Counsell walked to lead off the inning. Hardy laid down a beautiful bunt to advance the runners and beat out the throw at first to load the bases with no outs. Braun then singled to left to score Gallardo, leaving the bases still loaded. Prince Fielder hit a sacrifice fly to shallow left and third base coach Brad Fisher sent Counsell home where he made a beautiful slide, beating the throw with his toe and scoring another run. The inning ended on a double play, but the Crew had pushed the lead to 5-1.
Gallardo left the game after 7 2/3 with 118 pitches and nine strikeouts.
Todd Coffey sprinted on in relief with runners on first and second and got Bengie Molina to fly out on two pitches to end the inning. Carlos Villanueva then came in to close out the game in the ninth inning, retiring the side in order.
Edit: Also, the Cards lost, so we're tied for first again!