Brewers beat Braves in extra innings, 3-2

After two demoralizing losses to the Atlanta Braves in the first two games of their three game series in Atlanta, the Milwaukee Brewers were looking to salvage at least one win. And the Brewers were able to do just that behind the arms of Brandon Woodruff and Josh Hader as well as the home run ball.

To get things started, Christian Yelich got the Brewers on the board early as he hit his nineteenth home run in the season in the top of the first. The homer was a solo shot to dead away centerfield that just got over the wall. Ronald Acuna would immediately counter as he led off the bottom of the first with a homer of his own to make it 1-1 after one inning.

Keston Hiura came into today’s game really struggling. He at least has to be breathing a little easier as he hit his first major league home run in the top of the fifth inning. The line shot cleared the left field wall and gave the Brewers the lead, 2-1. He would later sting a single into left for his second hit of the game. A good day for the rookie second baseman.

There was some more excitement in the fifth coming from manager Craig Counsell. Orlando Arcia grounded out, but it looked as if he may have hit the ball off his foot. That would have constituted a foul ball as opposed to a ground out. Arcia’s reaction certainly suggested that he hit the ball off his foot. Unfortunately the umpires did not view it as such. Counsell took umbrage in a big way. In fact, he was asked to leave the game for a lack of decorum as he argued a bit too vehemently.

Brandon Woodruff was cruising through this game until Freddie Freeman came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Freeman launched a 96 mph fastball over the left centerfield wall to tie the ball game. Woodruff was able to complete the seventh inning with no other damage. The big surprise was that Woodruff led off the top of the eighth by flying out, and as a result, he came out to pitch the bottom of the eighth.

He entered the inning with only 80 pitches, so he was pitching efficiently as well as effectively. He was able to pitch around a single to get through the eighth inning and only with 93 pitches. The question would be, would he come out for the ninth?

He did not, but finished with a line of eight innings pitched, two earned runs on two solo shots, and six strikeouts. He looked every bit a top of the rotation arm today. But with Freddy Freeman coming up again in the ninth, the Brewers went with Josh Hader, and Hader got through the ninth with relative ease. That sent the game to extra innings. I imagine that was a surprise to everyone since that is the fourth extra inning affair for the Brew Crew in their last fifteen games.

Things looked a bit bleak in the tenth. Orlando Arcia singled to open the inning, but was cut down on what looked like a botched hit and run. Luckily Ben Gamel came to the rescue. He launched a home run over the centerfield wall to give the Brewers the lead, 3-2.

Josh Hader came back out for the tenth. He struck out Austin Riley to begin the inning. Johan Carmargo flew out to left. With their final opportunity, the Braves sent Josh Donaldson to the plate to pinch hit. Hader struck him out with a high fastball to notch the win in this one.

The Brewers are off on Monday and will return to Miller Park for the first of three against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 CT. Sonny Gray is slated to start against Gio Gonzalez. The game can be heard on WTMJ and seen on Fox Sports Wisconsin.