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WP: Kameron Loe (3-2)
LP: Matt Capps (1-4)
SV: John Axford (11)
HR: Trevor Plouffe 2 (13,14), Ryan Braun (17), Martin Maldonado (4)
MVP: Martin Maldonado (+.422)
LVP: Rickie Weeks (-.145)
Win Expectancy Graph, Star of the Game Voting, and Box Score
Martin Maldonado wasn't known for his offense in the minors, but you may not have guessed that if you've watched his short MLB career. Today, he did it again.
With the way this game started, it looked like it was going to be another of those games. Tonight, it was Francisco Liriano that was going to do it to them. Through the first five innings, the Brewers were held hitless. On the other side, Yovani Gallardo did his best to keep the Twins off the board, and was successful for the first four innings. However, in the fifth inning, a Trevor Plouffe home run and a Alexi Casilla RBI single gave the Twins a 2-0 lead. It looked like it was going to be another long game.
The Brewers finally broke through in the sixth inning. Edwin Maysonet and Carlos Gomez both drew walks to start the inning, bringing Ryan Braun to the plate. He ended the no-hitter with a three run home run to give the Brewers their first hit of the game and the lead at 3-2. It was a short-lived lead, though, as Trevor Plouffe hit his second home run of the game to tie it at three again. Yovani Gallardo did put up a quality start, their fifth straight, pitching six innings and allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Manny Parra and Kameron Loe followed Yovani Gallardo with scoreless appearances to keep the game tied at 3. Matt Capps came on to pitch the top of the ninth for the Twins. Corey Hart led off the inning with a ground-rule double. After getting outs from Rickie Weeks and Taylor Green, Martin Maldonado came up, and on a 2-2 count, he hit a home run into the Brewers bullpen to give the Brewers a 5-3 lead.
John Axford came in and pitched a clean ninth inning to get his eleventh save of the season, getting himself back on track after two blown saves in Kansas City.
The series continues tomorrow against the Twins. Michael Fiers starts for the Brewers, and Liam Hendricks makes the start for the Twins. First pitch is at 1:10 PM.