W: Josh Johnson (5-1)
L: Dave Bush (3-2)
S: Matt Lindstrom (11)
HR: Prince Fielder (13), Josh Johnson (1)
MVP: Prince Fielder (+.279)
LVP: Dave Bush (-.255)
Win Expectancy Graph
SBNation Coverage
It looked grim early on as Hanley Ramirez shot a line drive right off Dave Bush's right elbow with two out in the first inning. Considering the Brewers' bullpen lacked a rested long man, it seemed the team would have to scramble to get through the evening. Bush, however, was able to stay in the game and last six innings, the longest outing for a Brewers starter since May 29.
The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a Prince Fielder RBI triple with one out. Prince was stranded by one of Mike Cameron's four strikeouts and a Corey Hart flyout. In the bottom half of the fourth, the Marlins got to Dave Bush, scoring one run on a John Baker single. Bush retired Cody Ross with two on for the second out of the inning, but Josh Johnson crushed a mistake pitch over the center field wall to gave the Marlins a 4-1 lead. It was Johnson's first major league home run.
Johnson just kept rolling on the mound until the 8th inning. He was taken out after giving up a two out double to Ryan Braun. His final line was 7 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K on 107 pitches. Lefthander Dan Meyer came in to face Prince Fielder and promptly gave up a home run to the big fella to make it 4-3. Prince finished a double short of the cycle.
In the 9th, Corey Hart led off with an infield single. Jody Gerut, pinch-hitting for Bill Hall, then grounded into a double play, deflating hopes for a comeback. Mike Rivera struck out swinging to end the game. The Brewers leave Florida having won a game there for the first time in two years, but lose the series 3-1. At least it's over.