W: Manny Parra (6-8)
L: Clayton Kershaw (8-6)
S: Trevor Hoffman (24)
HR: Ryan Braun (22)
MVP: Ryan Braun (+.247)
LVP: Felipe Lopez (-.138)
Well, I can honestly say I didn't see that coming.
The Brewers beat Clayton Kershaw, one of baseball's hottest pitchers, tonight, drawing two bases loaded walks to build a 2-1 advantage in the fourth inning, then icing the game with a three run home run from Ryan Braun in the sixth. Braun went 4-for-5 in the game, and his homer was the Crew's only extra base hit. The Brewers drew seven walks tonight, including three by J.J. Hardy.
Meanwhile, Manny Parra pitched very well tonight, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and walking just one while pitching a career high eight innings, giving the Brewer bullpen a much needed rest. Parra, who struck out four batters, entered the ninth having gone eight innings on just 96 pitches, and faced two batters before being lifted for Trevor Hoffman, who allowed both runners to score on a ground rule double. Parra had never gone longer than 7.2 innings in his major league career.
Hoffman allowed both inherited runners and one of his own to score to make the score 6-5, and had a runner in scoring position with one out and the bases loaded with two outs and Manny Ramirez at the plate, but managed to retire Ramirez on a fly ball to Bill Hall (playing his first career game in right field) to close the door for his 24th save.