12-16: Hawkins=EPIC FAIL

Wow. Thank God I fell asleep before the bottom of the 9th, or I would have stayed up all night cursing the TV. The Brewers were facing the looming threat of being shut-out, yet again, on this 10 game road trip. The Dodgers' new hurler, John Ely, tossed 6.2 innings before exiting the game giving up only one earned run. This of course reminds everyone of last year when the Brewers couldn't hit the broadside of the barn when they faced a new pitcher. Ely gave up 4 hits, struck out 4 batters, and walked 3.

Jonathon Broxton was (finally) summoned for closing duties. He gave up 4 hits and 3 runs and handed Milwaukee a tied ball game.

This of course led to LaTroy Hawkins coming in and leaving a fastball over the plate for Ethier (league-leading 10th HR) to crush out of the ball park....a walk-off grand salami.

Hawkins has been a headcase, a human roller-coaster if you will since signing his 2 year contract. Despite having a solid opening week for Milwaukee, he has been sporadic at best. His velocity has dropped and he is no longer the clutch set-up man that he was in Houston.

Braun, Zaun, & Fielder each had two hits while Craig Counsell had an excellent pinch-hit single in the 9th.

Jeff Suppan pitched a stellar 2 innings in relief last night, giving up only a walk and striking out one Dodger.

Milwaukee needs to sweep in Arizona in order to return home with a winning record (3-4 thus far). HERE is a preview of the 3-game weekend match-up. Milwaukee's Yovannia Gallardo is going for his 4th straight win. He has not faced the Arizona DBacks since 2007, his rookie year! Hard to imagine how the schedule unfolded like that. It should be noted that the two times he faced AZ in 2007 he held them scoreless in 12 innings (total). He takes to the mound against RHP Edwin Jackson, who's a decent hurler but the wins haven't been rewarded to him for his above average performance.