:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7289293/20120606_ajw_bs5_174.jpg)
WP: Zack Greinke (7-2)
LP: Paul Maholm (4-5)
HR: Taylor Green (1)
MVP: Zack Greinke (+.251)
LVP: Carlos Gomez (-.103)
Win Expectancy Graph, Star of the Game Voting, and Box Score
After getting shutout by the Cubs last night, the Brewers got their revenge by returning the favor.
It was another solid start at home for Zack Greinke. He pitched seven strong innings tonight and allowed a total of two hits and two walks. He also had a season-high 12 strikeouts in his performance tonight. It was the most strikeouts he had in a game since June 13, 2010 against the Reds, where he also struck out 12.
Of course, Zack Greinke's performance would have meant nothing if he didn't have the offense to back him up. After three scoreless innings to start the game, it got going in the fourth inning. Norichika Aoki got the scoring going with a double to lead-off the fourth inning, and then got to third base on Carlos Gomez's flyout. He would then score on an RBI double from Ryan Braun. Corey Hart followed him with an infield single, and then after a flyout from Rickie Weeks, Cody Ransom hit an RBI double to make it a 2-0 lead. Brooks Conrad followed that with a 2-RBI single to make it a 4-0 game.
With Greinke on his game, the Brewers didn't need any more offense. The Brewers kept providing offense anyway. In the fifth inning, Corey Hart hit a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0. Then, in the eighth inning with runners on first and second, Taylor Green came up to pinch hit. He responded with the first home run of his major-league career, a three-run shot that made it 8-0.
Jose Veras and Juan Perez each pitched scoreless innings to finish the shutout for the Brewers. It was the third shutout of the season for the Brewers, and all three came in starts by Zack Greinke. It was also the third time this season that the Brewers pitchers held their opponent to three hits.
The rubber match of the series is tomorrow afternoon. Matt Garza takes the ball for the Cubs, and Randy Wolf makes the start for the Brewers. First pitch is at 1:10 PM.