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Win: Jeremy Guthrie (2-1)
Loss: Francisco Rodriguez (0-2)
Save: Rafael Betancourt (5)
HR: None
MVP: Yovani Gallardo (.309)
LVP: Francisco Rodriguez (-.343)
Fangraphs Win Expectancy Graph
When a team's best starter, or arguably their best starter, is on the mound, it should be expected that they have a reasonably good chance of winning. When that same starter pitches even better than usual, a team can expect that they have a very good chance of winning.
Unfortunately, this was one of those times where Yovani Gallardo pitched extraordinarily well but the Brewers still ended up losing. In seven innings, Gallardo allowed just one run on six hits and a walk while striking out eight. Three of the six hits came in the first inning as Jason Giambi drove in a run on a single. After that, Gallardo was lights out. It wasn't the kind of performance you would expect to see associated with a Brewers loss.
Unfortunately, after those seven innings, Francisco Rodriguez bombed in the eighth inning. With the game tied 1-1 and one out, Rodriguez gave up a single to Troy Tulowitzki and walked Giambi. A double from Michael Cuddyer scored both runners, giving the Rockies a 3-1 lead. Somehow, Jason Giambi of all people scored from first base.
The Brewers would spark a rally of their own in the bottom of the eighth, with Rickie Weeks walking and Carlos Gomez singling. After a Ryan Braun pop-up, Aramis Ramirez hit a ball that would have been a double had it been just a few feet further away from Cuddyer. Considering the speed on the basepaths, that very well may have tied the game at three apiece. But luck was not on the Brewers side and Corey Hart struck out to end the inning.
Wily Peralta made his major league debut in the ninth inning and struggled a little. Peralta started the inning with two straight singles before recording the first of what will hopefully be many major league strikeouts. Carlos Gonzalez would hit an RBI single off of Peralta before Tulowitzki grounded into an inning ending double play. Peralta was around 95-97 miles per hour on his fastball. The Brewers went down with nary a whimper in the bottom of the ninth.
There's not much to say about the Brewers offense today. Four hits doesn't lend itself to many highlights. Rickie Weeks hit a double and walked and Mat Gamel drove in Ryan Braun with a single in the fourth for the only Brewers run. Against Jeremy Guthrie, that's not a good thing.
Tomorrow is another day, and the Brewers will begin a series with the Houston Astros tomorrow. If ever there were a cure for what ails the Brewers, it's the Houston Astros.