W: Yovani Gallardo (10-5)
L: Randy Wells (5-9)
HR: Casey McGehee (15)
MVP: Casey McGehee (+.200)
LVP: Jonathan Lucroy (-.002)
Win Expectancy Graph and Star of the Game Voting
SB Nation Coverage
The Brewers just finished a five game losing streak where they scored eight runs. Tonight, they exploded for 18 runs in a six inning stretch against the Cubs, and Yovani Gallardo handled the rest en route to a blowout victory.
Gallardo didn't need a lot of help tonight. He pitched six innings and allowed one run on just two hits and a walk over six innings, tying a career high with 12 strikeouts. If the game were close he probably could have pitched at least one more inning: He was at just 95 pitches through 6.
But, thanks to the Brewer bats, the game wasn't close. The Brewers sent ten batters to the plate in both the fourth and fifth innings, scoring five runs in each frame and putting the game out of reach early. Two Brewers (Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder) had five hits in the game, Corey Hart had four, Alcides Escobar had three, and Casey McGehee went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and reached on an error, scoring three times.
All told, the Brewers had a season high 26 hits in the game, 22 of them singles. Trevor Hoffman came to the plate in the ninth inning for the first time since 2001, and struck out to strand the bases loaded.
In a scary moment late in the game, Carlos Gomez was hit in the head by a pitch in the eighth inning by Cubs reliever Brian Schlitter. He left the game but remained on the bench, and appeared to be ok. Gomez was hit twice in the game.
Gomez entered the game as a replacement for Jim Edmonds, who was given an early shower. When Gomez left the game, Alcides Escobar was forced into duty in center field. Entering this season, Escobar had never played a pro inning in the outfield. He's now played all three positions out there.
If you had told me the Brewers would only win one of their last six games, I would have been pretty disappointed. But if you'd let me pick the one win, I would've taken this game. So at least there's that.