Article:Brewers Cardinals Game One Recap

The Score:  Milwaukee Brewers 4 St. Louis Cardinals 3

Players of the Game:  Rickie Weeks: 2/5; 2B, GWing 2 RBI single Albert Pujols: 2/3; HR, BB

Game Recap:  The Brewers broke a six-game skid with an emotional victory last night after scoring two runs after two quick outs in the bottom of the 9th against closer, Jason Isringhausen. It was a sloppy game throughout as the Cardinals committed three errors, allowing two unearned runs to score, which were the only two the Brewers were get until the 9th inning.

Todd Wellenmeyer went through six strong, scattering six hits while striking out two, allowing two unearned runs, and Manny Parra was pulled after five to try and help the Brewers struggling offense. Parra struggled initially giving up three runs in the first two innings, via a homerun by Albert Pujols and suffering only two runs after loading the bases with nobody out in the second. Both bullpens held strong after that, as Riske, Torres, Shouse, McClellan and Franklin all tossed shutout baseball, but then Jason Isringhausen came out.

After Corey Hart and Bill Hall both flew out on one pitch (Hall's was a bullet that was caught on a very good play by Ankiel), Isringhausen melted down. JJ Hardy singled up the middle and Gabe Kapler followed with a solid single to left. Isringhausen would then go 3-0 against Kendall and walk him on five pitches, bringing up Rickie Weeks. My roommate sitting in the stands were yelling, "Take!" all over the place and Rickie did, going 1-0. As we yelled "Take!" again, Weeks ripped a fast ball up to the left field corner, scoring two. Prince Fielder was the first one to run out and clobber Weeks who was yelling like he had just won a playoff game, but getting of the snide is probably just as enjoyable.

Predictions and Notes:  This was a big win for the Brewers and it was predicted as such, but now today becomes the most important game of the series. Once teams get off the bus, they need to stay off it or they can fall further than ever before. Mike Cameron was awful, taking the collar and refusing to even hit a ball hard, bumping that prediction, but the Cardinals inability to get the top of the lineup on was the difference in this one. Schumaker struggled throughout against lefty Manny Parra, going 1/5 on the day with two strikeouts.

Troy Glaus was removed from the game early after bruising his tricep. His replacement Brendan Ryan proceeded to have an error the very next inning, but Gwynn would get caught stealing on a terrible hit and run call, where LaRussa outcoached Yost again by doing two pitch outs. We suggested going on a 2-1 count with it, but definitely not 1-1.

While the Brewers were on a 6-game skid, you probably couldn't tell by the number of fans in the stands. The Brewers sold-out Miller Park and when the game hit the 9th, surprisingly, the crowd was electric. It was interesting and enjoyable to see a city get behind a team like they did last night.

Game Changing Play:  Rickie Weeks walk-off 2-RBI single to win the game.

What's on Tap?:  Today the Brewers will take on the St. Louis Cardinals on national television (FOX) at 2:40 CST, pitting Ben Sheets against Joel Piniero. After Sheets skipped his first start of the year he's been serviceable, but unimpressive, giving up eight runs in 11.1 innings, 'ballooning' his ERA to 2.29, but he's the last he's the last Brewers starting pitcher to take a win and needs to get back on that horse today. Joel Piniero has performed quite well since returning to the bigs on April 13th, but has been inconsistent. In his last start he gave up four runs in just three innings after giving up 8 hits. This one is going to be a battle, and hopefully will display some decency on national television considering their 19-5 loss against the Cubs when they were on ESPN.