Win: Yovani Gallardo (10-5)
Loss: Joe Paterson (0-2)
Save: John Axford (22)
HR: Kelly Johnson (15), Casey McGehee (5)
MVP: Casey McGehee (.422)
LVP: Rickie Weeks (-.109)
Fangraphs Win Expectancy Graph
There isn't really a much better way to put it than that.
This game got off on the wrong foot with the very first batter as Kelly Johnson smacked Yovani Gallardo's third pitch of the game over the wall for a solo home run. Of course, than Gallardo went on to strike out the side. After that first batter, Gallardo went seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and a walk. He also struck out six.
It didn't look like he was going to get the win, though, as the Brewers offense couldn't get anything at all going against the Diamondbacks. Josh Collmenter had a great start--he went six three hit innings--but Arizona left it to their bullpen, starting with Joe Paterson, to finish out the final three innings. Paterson struck out Prince Fielder to start off the inning, then allowed singles to Mark Kotsay and Jonathan Lucroy. With two on, one out and Mat Gamel stepping to the plate, Ron Roenicke did the unthinkable. He pinch hit the uber-struggling Casey McGehee for Gamel, who had been perhaps the best hitter in the Brewers minor leagues before being called up. Surely this would have another awful result, right?
Casey McGehee ended up hitting a three run home run, giving the Brewers a two run lead that they wouldn't give up as LaTroy Hawkins and John Axford shut down the Diamondbacks offense.
Overall a very nice result considering the past couple days.