56-49: Milwaukee shuts out Chicago; Greinke Heats Up

First, the good news.  Milwaukee beat their border rival the Chicago Cubs.  Carlos Zambrano looked decent on the mound, only giving up 2 runs to the potent home team offense.  What I found funny was when Quade came out to remove him from the game and Zambrano had a mini tyrade that resulted in him exiting the mound and making fascial expressions at the Cubs' manager. 

Greinke looked his best last night, going 6 2/3 innings of shut-out work; giving up only 3 hits, 3 walks, and fanning 9.  His pitch count jumped in the 2nd or 3rd inning (can't remember which one exactly) when he threw 25 total pitches.  Had it not been for that laboring inning, I could see Greinke pithching a complete game.  But again, when you have Saito/Hawkins/Loe-KRod-Axford as your 1-2-3 punch at the end, why risk injury with your starters.  Compete games aren't necessary like they were in seasons past.  Back in the day, Milwaukee needed Ben Sheets to throw a complete game in order to cut the pen some slack.  Not any more.  Different bullpen--different results..

Rickie Weeks twisted his ankle something fierce; he will be out 2-4 weeks, just announced by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.  He'll be put on the 15 day DL (possibly the 30 day DL) and Eric Farris has already been summoned from Nashville.  Starting tonight, Milwaukee will have a platoon between Farris, Counsell, and Wilson.  My guess is that Wilson will get the majority of the time, since Counsell is in a 0-38 slump.  He popped out twice last night to shallow RF.  Farris is only hitting .256 with 36 RBI's....but he can get on base and plays semi-decent defense.  Counsell will be the starter when Ron is slanting towards a defensive approach to the game.

Milwaukee plays St Louis 8 times in August.  Rickie weeks it out 2-4 weeks, my guess is the latter.

Prince Fielder snapped out of his homerless streak....