Win: Yovani Gallardo (11-8)
Loss: Jordan Lyles (2-9)
Save: Kameron Loe (1)
HR: Hart (22)
MVP: Yovani Gallardo (.183)
LVP: Aramis Ramirez (-.075)
Fangraphs Win Expectancy Chart
The Brewers may be having an underwhelming season, but at least they left Minute Maid Park (National League version) on a good note.
This will be the last time Milwaukee will visit Houston before they move to the American League. Yovani Gallardo helped do his part to make it a happy ending. He didn't pitch a game that will make you say wow, but he gave 7.2 innings of nine-hit ball while walking two and striking out eight. I think at this point, Ron Roenicke might just be trying to avoid his bullpen as much as possible. Gallardo's pitch count wasn't extreme--he threw 114 pitches. But Roenicke hasn't often let pitchers work deep into games unless they have their best stuff.
Regardless, what part of the Brewers bullpen did appear did so effectively. Jose Veras got the last out of the eighth inning while Kameron Loe worked a scoreless ninth for just the third save of his career.
Thanks in part to a Marwin Gonzalez error, the Brewers were able to notch four runs against Jordan Lyles, two of which were earned. Still, his final line will look encouraging to Astros fans: 7 IP, 5 K, 0 BB and two earned runs is a pretty good start in my book, especially for a 21-year-old former top prospect who has struggled his first couple seasons in the majors.
Jean Segura had a nice little game for the Brewers, singling twice and scoring a run. Norichika Aoki also had a couple of hits and stole two bases while Corey Hart hit his 22nd home run of the season.
The Brewers and NL Astros will face off for one final series in Miller Park from September 28-30. In the meantime, Milwaukee begins a series with the Rockies tomorrow. Mike Fiers versus Jeff Francis. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40.