6-4 win over Houston, 60-44, TIED for 1st
"Oh, hey, when did you get here?"
That's what the Cubbies must be thinking. A 5 game lead at the break has dwindled to nothing like an Italian beef sandwich in front of an overweight, stretch pant wearing FIB. The Crew pulled even with Chicago tonight with a come from behind win over Houston and a Marlins win at Wrigley.
The show was all Braunie in my opinion. In yet another example of an athlete taking the mantle of leadership by letting actions and words speak volumes, Braun had 4 RBI, including a game tying, 2 run, 2 out HR in the 7th. Up until then, it looked like another dismal night for the bats as Brandon Backe kept the Crew to 2 runs through 6. Dave Bush, in his first start as a "Home Only" pitcher, was a little rusty, but still worked a quality 5 innings before being pulled for Riske, Mota and Gagne, ALL of whome did not give up any more runs. By the time Torres came in for the 9th after B-Hall drove in the go ahead run in the 8th, I realized, "This is it, they pulled the Cubbies right back... EVEN WITH this horrible hitting with RISP."
However, in an irony of sorts, the Brewers/Astros lites did not make the Talkin' Sports show tonight. However, we did have a Mike McCarthy VOSOT regarding Favre. I just can't escape that damn Pack.
"Oh, hey, when did you get here?"
That's what the Cubbies must be thinking. A 5 game lead at the break has dwindled to nothing like an Italian beef sandwich in front of an overweight, stretch pant wearing FIB. The Crew pulled even with Chicago tonight with a come from behind win over Houston and a Marlins win at Wrigley.
The show was all Braunie in my opinion. In yet another example of an athlete taking the mantle of leadership by letting actions and words speak volumes, Braun had 4 RBI, including a game tying, 2 run, 2 out HR in the 7th. Up until then, it looked like another dismal night for the bats as Brandon Backe kept the Crew to 2 runs through 6. Dave Bush, in his first start as a "Home Only" pitcher, was a little rusty, but still worked a quality 5 innings before being pulled for Riske, Mota and Gagne, ALL of whome did not give up any more runs. By the time Torres came in for the 9th after B-Hall drove in the go ahead run in the 8th, I realized, "This is it, they pulled the Cubbies right back... EVEN WITH this horrible hitting with RISP."
However, in an irony of sorts, the Brewers/Astros lites did not make the Talkin' Sports show tonight. However, we did have a Mike McCarthy VOSOT regarding Favre. I just can't escape that damn Pack.
After the game, B-Hall explained to Jim Powell the new tradition of untucking the shirts after a win. I'd been hearing about it on the JSO blog, (I think many stodgy bloggers find it disrespectful), but until tonight, I had nothing to go on for a reason. Apparently, Cameron brought it to the club as a symbol of, "work is done, time to relax". I like it. I'm not going to Buck Showalter this like the predominantly white, middle aged Crew fans who still think every athlete has to be Robin. Let's remember, Robin tooling around on motorcycles in the off season is more of a problem than anything Bill Hall does in his free time (allegedly).
3-1 loss to Houston, 59-44, 1 game back
"We 'SHOULD' have won
It's hard to be happy in sports. You know you can't win every game, but you think you KNOW which games should be won, and oddly enough, ALL games seem like they should be won. Take for example Friday's loss at the hands of Wandy Rodriguez, who hasn't won since the LAST time the Crew faced him. He gave up only 1 run through 6 and the Brewer's made another bush league pitcher look like a Cy Young Award winner. Parra pitched well, but left with the bases loaded and no outs in the 7th inning after 6 scoreless. Riske couldn't keep them from scoring as the Astros used small ball to get the only runs they needed. Now an 8 game winning streak is yesterday's news as all a Brewer fan can think about is a squandered opportunity to move into a tie for first place thanks to a Cubs loss.
4-3 win at St. Louis, 59-43, 1 game back
Never would have thought!
I knew the Crew was good this season, I knew the Cards, as well as they were playing, were not the same old Cards, but I never expected the Crew to go undefeated on a 7 game road trip, 4 games of which were in St. Louis.
Even though 11 runners were left on base, Ryan Braun hit when it mattered, nailing an 0-1 pitch from closer Ryan Franklin after a JJ Hardy single to put the Crew ahead and STUN the Cardinals fans. Listening to the game, I was shocked to hear the "Best Fans in Baseball" boo their Redbirds. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on the fickle Brewer fans, they aren't the only fans who do it. Apparently, while Torres was striking out the side in the 9th, the fans were chanting, "We want a closer". [I think we could give them a deal on Turnbow. Oh yeah, he's getting his arm checked out. I'm thinking if you walk 41 in 18+ AAA innings, you MAY want your arm checked out.]
Sheeter gave up 2 earned on 4 hits in 7 innings, and while he hasn't been Sabathia good lately, he still deserved a win considering how crummy the run support is. Instead, the W went to Gagne, who did walk a man in the 8th, but otherwise was effective.
Thanks in large part to Braun, who is 14-29 with 3 taters on this trip, the Brewers are 2 games over .500 on the road this season, the latest into a season they have had a winning road record since '99. I guess I can't complain about that. BUT I will complain about the inability to hit with ducks on the pond... the Cubbies won't let that crap fly.
