Win: Bronson Arroyo (1-0)
Loss: Randy Wolf (0-1)
HR: Gomes (1), Phillips (1), Hanigan 2 (2), Weeks (2), Braun (2)
MVP: Rickie Weeks (.201)
LVP: Randy Wolf (-.399)
Fangraphs Soul-Crushing Win Expectancy Graph
It wasn't such a bad game for three and a half innings.
Sure, Randy Wolf gave up two runs in the second inning, but the game was still tied and Rickie Weeks had another lead-off homer and, later, another RBI.
But then the bottom of the fourth happened. After a strikeout and a walk, Paul Janish doubled on a play that Ryan Braun might have been able to make, had he taken a better route to the ball. After an Arroyo strikeout, there were runners on second and third with Drew Stubbs coming up. Stubbs grounded to McGehee, who inexplicably threw home rather than to first. Of course, the lead runner beat the throw and everyone was safe all around. One batter later, Brandon Phillips hit a three run homer to break the game open, and the Reds just kept pouring it on from there.
Maybe McGehee wouldn't have gotten the speedy Stubbs at first base, but there was no shot at getting the out at home. In that situation, you need to try for the force. Had he gotten Stubbs, the inning would have been over and we might have seen a different end result.
Really, though, the entire putrid Brewers defense was on display this game. Outside of the two previously mentioned defensive miscues, Yuni had an error on a bobbled ball and George Kottaras didn't even try to block the plate on the McGehee throw home. There were plenty of others, too.
The Brewers ended up using six pitchers today. Wolf allowed six earned on ten hits and two walks in four innings. Brandon Kintzler followed that up by giving up four runs in just 1.1 innings, though only one of those were earned. Both Mitch Stetter and Sean Green allowed a run in .2 innings and 1 inning each, respectively. John Axford came in for the eighth, but had to be pulled after giving up two hits in .2 innings. Kameron Loe pitched a perfect 0.1 innings.
All in all, not a pleasant or particularly fun game to watch. But, hey, home opener tomorrow! I'll be at Miller Park, as will some other members of the site, and for the rest of you the game thread will open at noon tomorrow with the game starting at 1:10.