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W: Yovani Gallardo (2-1)
L: Clayton Richard (0-2)
S: Jim Henderson (5)
HR: None
MVP: Carlos Gomez (+.148 WPA)
LVP: Yovani Gallardo (-.077)
At some point, we may have to discuss the possibility that this team could go 154-8. After a 2-8 start, they improved to 11-8 tonight with a win over the Padres.
They took a big early lead in the second inning tonight, plating five runs to take a 6-2 lead. Yuniesky Betancourt and Jonathan Lucroy each had a pair of RBI in the rally that gave the Crew a lead they would not relinquish. Jean Segura drove in a run with a groundout in the inning and also had three hits in five at bats tonight.
Meanwhile, Yovani Gallardo had a weird night. He allowed two runs in the first and another in the second, then settled down and more or less stayed out of trouble until the seventh. He had two outs in that inning when he allowed three consecutive walks, and had two strikes on two of the last three hitters he faced but could not finish them off. Thankfully, Tom Gorzelanny struck out Yonder Alonso on three pitches to end the threat.
Elsewhere in encouraging bullpen news, John Axford pitched a 1-2-3 eighth tonight and has now recorded six consecutive scoreless outings. He's lowered his ERA from 24.30 to 9.35 over that stretch.
Ron Roenicke was ejected from tonight's game in the fifth inning following a blown call on a check swing appeal. It was the first time he's been thrown out of a game all season.
This series wraps up tomorrow with another late night, as Marco Estrada takes on Edinson Volquez at 9:10.