W: Zack Greinke (8-4)
L: Carlos Zambrano (7-6)
S: John Axford (29)
HR: Prince Fielder (23)
MVP: Zack Greinke (+.385)
LVP: Craig Counsell (-.065)
Win Expectancy Graph and Star of the Game Voting
The Brewers clinched a series victory with a nice win tonight, but it might have come at a high cost.
The Brewers got 6.2 scoreless innings from Zack Greinke tonight, but he needed 123 pitches (only the second time in his career) to do so and as such he had to come out of the game early. He walked three (tying a season high) and struck out nine: He now has nine K's or more in six of his last nine starts. This was his first scoreless appearance as a Brewer.
Meanwhile, the Crew got their runs early against Carlos Zambrano, picking up two in the second inning on Prince Fielder's solo homer and and Yuniesky Betancourt's sac fly. Fielder almost had his second homer of the game leading off the sixth inning, but the ball was caught at the wall.
Unfortunately, the result of the game isn't tonight's biggest story. Rickie Weeks left tonight's game in the second inning with what looked like a relatively severe sprain of his left ankle. X-rays at the ballpark showed no fracture, but he's been taken to the hospital for further examination.
Craig Counsell entered the game in place of Weeks and, while he made some nice defensive plays, went 0-for-3 to extend his hitless streak to 38 at bats. He's now tied for the longest hitless streak by a position player in franchise history.
John Axford's save was his 26th in as many opportunities, setting a new Brewer franchise record.