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Winning Pitcher: David Buchanan
Losing Pitcher: Matt Garza
HR: Carlos Gomez (14)
It was quite the day for (starting) pitchers. Matt Garza didn't allow a baserunner until the fifth when he walked Marlon Byrd. The Phillies didn't get their first hit until the top of the seventh inning. They got their second hit that inning as well and threatened after a ground out advanced the runners to second and third. Jeff Bianchi was able to knock down a line drive and throw to home for the second out. The threat ended on a deep fly out to center.
Garza would run into some trouble in the eighth inning and after getting 2 outs with runners on, was replaced by Will Smith. He would give up a base hit to Jimmy Rollins and two runs would score. Those runs belonged to Garza and so ultimately he allowed 3 hits, 3 walks, struck out 3, and gave up 2 runs.
David Buchanan was cruising through this game as well. He allowed a base hit early in the game, but the second hit was the important one and it didn't come until the sixth inning. Carlos Gomez hit a lead-off solo shot which at the time gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead. Buchanan would pitch a total of 7 innings allowing just the 1 run.
Will Smith would allow another 3 runs to score in that disastrous eighth inning before being removed for Brandon Kintzler who immediately allowed 2 more runs (both charged to Smith). Another two runs would score before the inning ended.
Wei-Chung Wang pitched the ninth inning. He'd get two outs before allowing a 2-run home run to Ryan Howard.
The Carlos Gomez home run was the only piece of actual offense the Brewers could muster in this game and it was nowhere near enough. The Phillies sweep the Brewers and take the season series 4-3.
Short memories and all that. Tomorrow begins the weekend series against the Cardinals. Yovani Gallardo takes on Joe Kelly. Start time is 7:10 pm CT.
Other notes:
- Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez apparently collided in the outfield again, though one of them did catch the ball this time. Both stayed in the game and are presumably fine. Here is Matt Garza's reaction to the play.
- St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is going to miss significant time after tearing a ligament in his thumb that will require surgery. Injuries suck and I hate them. Yes, even when they happen to the Cardinals. However, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't observe that this potentially benefits the Brewers in their weekend series against the Cards. It also means Jonathan Lucroy will very likely start the All-Star Game.
- Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips will be "out for a while" after hurting his thumb as well. He'll have surgery tomorrow. Billy Hamilton also hurt his hamstring recently, but he pinch hit in today's game so it's probably not a major concern.
