66-50: Brewers deliver in the clutch

Despite leaving the bases loaded on one occassion and going 3-8 with RISP, Milwaukee was still able to deliver when it counted most.  In 10 innings the Crew defeated the 2nd place Cardinals 5-3 behind an excellent outing by Milwaukee pitching staff.  Shaun Marcum went 6 complete giving up 3 earned on 8 hits (3 k's, 1 BB).  John Axford notched his 33rd save of the season and his 30th straight, while Latroy Hawkins earned his first win of the season in a huge 9th inning appearence.  Krod also looked good in his inning of work during the 8th.

Corey Hart looks like he recovered from getting hit on his left hand; he started things off right with a 2-run homer in the3rd inning.  Jonathon Lucroy is contuing his kick ass 2011 campaign.  He's now hitting .286 on the season and last night he drove in a key run and went 2 for 4 from the plate.  Defensively, he looked good as well--having key stops on some wild pitches by Shaun Marcum and Axford.

Shaun Marcum may have tweaked his hamstring or was cramping-up during the game.  After smacking a double in the 5th inning and making it over to 3B eventually, he was then caught in a run down.  During that blunder of a play, it looked like he rolled his ankle.  Then during the 6th inning he labored through out the inning by taking 30-45 second breaks in between pitches.  He was working his legs and stretching during those breaks and he 'winced' at times.  He was in obvious discomfort, but he finished the inning. 

Chris Narveson sliced his throwing hand with a pair of scissors last night while fixing his glove.  I'm calling bullshit there.  That means he must have done it doing something even more stupid.  That being said, the 8 stitches will keep him out 7-10 days and he fore sure miss his Friday start at home versus the Pirates.  This shouldn't effect the rotation as there have been a couple of off days in the last week. 

KRod is saying and doing all the right things!
"Obviously, when I got traded here, I was told that I would get a chance to close out games," Rodriguez"Unfortunately, I haven't got any opportunities yet, but that's something that I guess has worked out well. We're winning. We're in first place. As long as we win, I will be happy"



It was agent Scott Boras that was preaching to the MLB that if anyone trades for his client, they better have him closing games.  The last thing teams want is an unhappy closer.  Stupid move on Boras' part, really.  After all, it's KRod that has to prove to other teams that he can play for any team out there -- and get paid.  He's turning in to a great team player, or at least acting like it. 
Probably the most brilliant thing about adding Krod to the team was that GM Doug Melvin was able to cock block a team like the Cardinals from landing a big name closer.  Now they have they're own problems, LIKE THIS.