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Win: Marco Estrada (7-4)
Loss: Stephen Strasburg (6-6)
HR: Scooter Gennett (5), Khris Davis (14)
The Brewers are a funny team. It's confirmation bias maybe, but it seems like they like to do the opposite of what is expected. An unknown rookie who struggled is making his first start against the team? Yeah, he'll shut the Brewers out for seven innings. Milwaukee wasn't expected to compete by most people in 2014? Well, they'll just go ahead and be the best team in the National League.
Throwing out nearly the worst lineup possible with their roster composition, going against the National's (arguably) best pitcher after scoring just two runs over 25 innings in their last two games against Washington? Of course today was the day the offense broke out.
Ron Roenicke threw out a true day-game-after-night-game lineup, featuring Elian Herrera in right field, Martin Maldonado behind the plate, and Lyle Overbay batting cleanup. Against Stephen Strasburg, that's normally a deathwish. Not so today.
The Nationals kicked off scoring in the second with a little bit of small ball. Undeterred, the Brewers decided small ball was for sissies and came back in the bottom of the inning with a Scooter Gennett grand slam. A Scooter Gennett grand slam! Scoring Mark Reynolds, Elian Herrera and Martin Maldonado! All those players reached base safely!
An Ian Desmond RBI double in the fourth cut the lead to 4-2, but Khris Davis launched a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth for another run. The Nationals stopped scoring then. The Brewers didn't. Davis drove in two more in the fifth with a single, then Gennett and Carlos Gomez each singled home a run in the sixth. Nine runs with this lineup. Crazy.
Also crazy, and perhaps more ridiculous than the lineup managing nine runs: Marco Estrada did not give up a home run today. In fact, he was pretty great today, allowing two runs on two hits over 6.1 innings. He did give up four walks, but also struck out four batters. No home runs is important, though. Those have been the bane of his existence all season. If he somehow flips the switch to not seemingly pitching to Barry Bonds every at-bat, then he can start being the secret ace we all hoped he might be at the beginning of the season.
Mark Reynolds (single and two walks) and Carlos Gomez (two singles and a triple) both reached base three times for the Brewers. Gennett, Davis and Jean Segura all reached base twice.
The Brewers get another round against the Rockies next, this time at Miller Park. First pitch is 7:10 CT tomorrow.
