W: Tim Collins (3-0)
L: Kameron Loe (2-2)
HR: None
MVP: Randy Wolf (+.354)
LVP: John Axford (-.535)
Win Expectancy Graph and Star of the Game Voting
This game looked a lot like last night's, except different bullpen pitchers melted down.
The Brewers had a two run lead with two on and two outs in the ninth inning but John Axford allowed Alcides Escobar to triple and tie the game, sending it to extra innings. Axford threw 25 pitches in the ninth, but only eleven of them were strikes.
The Royals pair of runs in the ninth forced extra innings and they loaded the bases with none out in the eleventh against Kameron Loe. Jose Veras was called upon to take Loe's place and walked Mike Moustakas to force home the winning run.
Hours earlier the Brewers gave up a single run in the first but scored their first run in the third during an inning that featured four infield hits. Two of them were bunt singles on back-to-back pitches for Norichika Aoki and Carlos Gomez. They couldn't get more, however, as Ryan Braun struck out and Corey Hart popped out with the bases loaded to end the threat.
Braun was able to redeem himself in the seventh, though, hitting an RBI single to give the Crew a 2-1 lead. Braun had two hits tonight and now has an eight game hitting streak. He also has a hit in a franchise-record 18 straight interleague games.
Those two runs gave a slight cushion to Randy Wolf, who might have been as good tonight as he's been in quite some time. He scattered six hits and allowed just one run over seven innings, walking two and striking out just one. The defense behind him was excellent, turning a pair of double plays, picking up an outfield assist and making several other sparkling plays. The defense carried over into the eighth, when Francisco Rodriguez allowed a leadoff single but Ryan Braun's leaping catch in left and a 5-4-3 double play preserved the one run lead.
This series will wrap up with a getaway-day night contest tomorrow. Shaun Marcum wiil take on Luke Hochevar at 7:10.