WP: Randy Wolf (8-8)
LP: Edwin Jackson (8-8)
HR: Corey Hart (15); Casey McGehee 3 (6, 7, 8); Rafael Furcal (2)
MVP: McGehee (.387)
LVP: Randy Wolf (-.124)
FanGraphs Win Expectancy Graph
Casey McGehee: big Teddy Roosevelt fan?
Maybe not, but the Brewers third baseman certainly carried a big stick in the wake of yesterday's Tony LaRussa-fueled nonsense: Mighty KC nearly doubled his season HR output in one game, clubbing three homers and driving in five runs as the Brewers completed an 8-1 homestand with a satisfying 10-5 triumph over St. Louis.
Brewers starter Randy Wolf found trouble right away, but not because of any beanball hijinks -- Wolf gave up a single to Rafael Furcal to open the game, walked Matt Holliday after disrespectfully striking out Al Pujols, and then gave up a run-scoring single to David Freese as the Cards grabbed a 1-0, first-inning lead. Not to be outdone, the Brewers responded by battering Edwin Jackson for four hits and two homers in their first turn at bat: Corey Hart got things started with a towering blast to left field, and after Ryan Braun doubled, McGehee clubbed his first homer since July 6 to give the Brewers an early 3-1 advantage.
Sadly for the local nine, though, Wolf coughed up the lead faster than a drunk can recite the ABCs during a field sobriety test: after Hart botched a flyball by Corey Patterson and Jackson followed with a dribbler to third, Wolf surrendered an unforgivable, three-run bomb to the Corpse of Furcal in the top of the second inning to momentarily crush the Crew's spirits.
Gray skies cleared up for the Crew in the third (though, predictably, the sunshine drew an official complaint from the Cards) when Casey deposited another hanging slider over the wall with Fielder on first and two down to reclaim the lead for Milwaukee. The Crew small-balled its way to two more runs in the fifth and Hart added his second RBI of the day on a sixth-inning duckfart that plated Flip Lopez. And then, just for good measure, McGehee added a third homer in the eighth inning, a shot to straightaway center that salted away the win.
Wolf's outing wasn't stellar, by any definition, but he settled in after the rough start to work 6.0 innings, giving up nine hits and two walks while striking out two. Kam Loe and LaTroy Hawkins turned in incredibly efficient outings, as each man worked a clean inning while only throwing ten pitches each. John Axford made the non-save situation a little bit interesting when he allowed Furcal and Ryan Theriot to reach with two down in the ninth, but the Ax cleaved Pujols' lumber in two with a delicious slider to end the game.
With the win, the Brewers re-establish their 3.5 game advantage over St. Louis heading into tomorrow's off day. And, that being the case, I believe I owe Noah some soda.