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Winning ball thrower: Kyle Lohse
Losing ball thrower: Brad Ziegler
Closers aren't things guy: Francisco Rodriguez
HR: Aramis Ramirez (8), Jonathan Lucroy x 2 (8)
NSFW GIF of my reaction to Kirk Gibson and the rest of the D-Backs after hitting Braun
The Diamondbacks put forth a great effort to ruin my evening. In the first inning, after a HBP, single, and a walk the bases were loaded with no outs for Miguel Montero who blooped in a run with a pop-up that dropped in left field. Another run scored on a fielder's choice. Yet another run would score on another fielder's choice. Mark Reynolds made a poor throw other wise the inning may have ended there without the run scoring. Jean Segura was on the receiving end of the throw and had to stretch to catch the ball and stay on the base. It look as though he might have hurt himself in the process, but stayed in the game. No more runs would be plated that inning, but the Brewers were down by 3 runs early.
In the very next inning, as Aramis Ramirez approached the plate he look at the camera, winked, and said, "buck up kiddo". Then he launched a home run to left field. Message received big guy. Then Khris Davis approached the plate, looked at the camera, and said "If you liked that, you'll love this." Then he quickly grounded out. I mean, hey, the kid tried. A man of few words, Jean Segura walked to the plate, tapped his chest with his fist as if to say, "I got you, bro" and shot a ball to right center for a triple. Elian Herrera made that awkward finger gun gesture as he approached the plate. It was kind of uncomfortable to watch and he looked embarrassed. I'm sure he was when he grounded out to end the inning. At least the Brewers got a run back. Also, I may or may not have made all that up, except for the actual batting results.
The Diamondbacks got the run back in the fifth as Kyle Lohse gave Paul Goldschmidt his 3rd walk of the night. Scooter Gennett's error, on what should have been an inning ending grounder, allowed Goldschmidt to go to second and Miguel Montero to first. Martin Prado's base hit drove in Goldschmidt.
Jonathan Lucroy is no-nonsense so no fanfare preceded his solo home run to left, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Unfortunately, much like with Ramirez's solo shot, it was the only run of the inning. In fact, it was the only hit of the inning.
A scary moment happened in the sixth inning as Lohse beaned, on accident of course, Chris Owings high in the back. It was inches from hitting his helmet. He stayed in the game. One batter latter Lohse nearly missed knocking opposing pitcher Mike Bolsinger in the head, again clearly an accident. The inning ended without further incident and that would end the night for Kyle Lohse. Another quality start (the 4th run was unearned), though a shaky one.
A super awesome moment happened in the seventh as Segura led the inning off with his second triple of the night. Herrera did something productive by flying out to center. A poor throw from centerfielder David Peralta helped allow Segura to score the run bringing the Brewers to within a run of the D-Backs. Right-hander, Evan Marshall, came in on relief to face Lyle Overbay and Scooter Gennett in back to back at-bats. Overbay singled and Gennett lined in a double. Ryan Braun stepped to the plate with one out and runners at second and third.
I was confused why the right-hander came in to face two guys who can't get a hit off a LHP to save their lives. The answer readily presented itself. Marshall with his first pitch to Ryan Braun went behind him. With his second pitch he didn't miss catching Braun on his gluteus maximus. If it wasn't clear to anyone, Kirk Gibson made sure everyone knew it was intentional with a fist bump to Marshall on his way back to the dugout after being ejected to the game. The rest of the Diamondback dugout greeted him with high-fives. This kind of behavior is absolutely reprehensible. People like Kirk Gibson and by extension the entire Diamondbacks' 25 man rosterare an embarrassment to baseball.
Still in the seventh inning, Jonathan Lucroy came to the plate with the newly loaded bases and one out. Lucroy presented Kirk Gibson and the Diamondbacks a big jolly "F--- YOU" with a grand slam. Added emotion is of course my own invention as Lucroy, consummate professional, simply rounded the bases like he would for any other home run. It wasn't a cheap one either. It went out straight to center. After the seventh inning was finished the Brewers had taken the 7-4 lead.
With a three run lead intact, Francisco Rodriguez took the mound in the ninth for the save. It wouldn't be an easy save as Roger Kieschnick led off the inning with his first career home run. Cody Ross followed up with a single. The next batter struck out, but Gerardo Parra lined to put runners at 1st and 2nd with one out for Paul Goldschmidt. After 3 walks in the game you could almost feel a game winning home run coming. Instead K-Rod got his second strikeout of the inning. Tense is an understatement as Miguel Montero came to the plate and supreme relief is also an understatement as he quickly grounded out on the first pitch. The good guys won.
They're back at tomorrow to try to make it 3 in a row as Matt Garza faces Wade Miley. Start time is 8:40 pm CT.
