5-4 loss to Cincinnati, 82-63 4½ GB
Falling apart sooner than 11 innings
You always have a chance when you get to extra, but for the Crew, it just doesn't seem that way any more. Ray Durham's pinch hit 3 run HR tied things up in the 7th, but even with that jump start didn't eactly ignite the offense which has scored only 24 runs in 9 games. Chances for go ahead runs were ruined when Alcedes Escobar, pinch running for Mike Lamb, got caught past second base on a Weeks long fly ball for an inning ending DP. A two out single by Fielder in the 10th that led to a man in scoring postion after Tony Gwynn stole second also led to nothing as Cameron flies out to center. Tonight a Brandon Phillips RBI off Seth McClung was all Cordero needed to lock up the win for the Reds.

Tonight's beneficiary of the Brewer's pathetic hitting was rookie righthander Ramon Ramirez, making only his 2nd start. Over 6 innings, he gave up only 1 hit and worked out of a possible big Brewer first when he allowed his only run of the game even though the Brewer's had a bases loaded, 1 out situation thanks to a misplayed pop up. Braun, Cam and Hall all failed to come through in that inning.

The pitching is great on this team, but I just can't stand cheering for a team that relies so heavily on the long ball. I love hitting, station to station, good D baseball, and I cheer for a team that does none of that.