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WP: John Axford (1-3)
LP: Joe Kelly (0-2)
SV: Jim Henderson (8)
HR: None
MVP: Jeff Bianchi (+.303)
LVP: Yuni Betancourt (-.300)
At a moment when it felt like the Brewers might fail to score yet another runner in scoring position, Jeff Bianchi came through with a big two-out, two-RBI single in the tenth inning to lead the Brewers to a 6-4 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday night.
Before Bianchi's single up the middle, however, it looked like the tenth inning would produce yet another painful moment in a road trip full of them. Ryan Braun led off the tenth inning with single and Aramis Ramirez followed with an bloop single that sent Braun to third base. Things were looking up. And then they weren't. Jonathan Lucroy grounded to third and Braun had to stay put. After an intentional walk to Carlos Gomez that loaded the bases, Logan Schafer came to the plate as a pinch hitter. He grounded into a fielder's choice with Braun being forced out at home. The best thing about the play was that it wasn't a double play.
But Bianchi, who started at second base for Rickie Weeks and was making just his second start since joining the Brewers at the beginning of the month, came through with the run-scoring hit. Sigh of relief.
Bianchi wasn't the only Brewer with a flare for the dramatic on Saturday night. John Axford caused us all to hold our breath and wonder just how we were in this situation yet again during the bottom of the ninth with a tie score. After getting the first two batters, Ax gave up a double, a walk, an intentional walk to load the bases. And during a heart stopping at-bat, got Daniel Descalso to strike out on a curve ball in the dirt.
With a two-run lead, Jim Henderson was able to send down the Cardinals 1-2-3 in the bottom of the tenth.
The Brewers try to salvage their road trip with a series win against the Cardinals Sunday at 1:15 with Lohse taking on Gast.