So I've decided to give this another shot. I tried doing this on opening day but as you can read in my opening day post I had some problems and it didn't turn out so why not try again now? This style of a blog post is an idea I'm borrowing (aka: stealing) from my favorite sports writer Bill Simmons. This is not that important of a game for the Brewers but it is the start of a very important stretch for them. This game starts a string of 18 consecutive games against division opponents for the Crew and the first nine are at home which is good news, so a win tonight could put us on the right path to a successful homestand which could give the Brewers sole possession of first and possibly give them some breathing room from the Cardinals and Pirates(man it feels weird to say that). So here it is, hopefully this will be as good as I want it to.
7:03 P.M. - Stat flashes up on the pre-game show. Ryan Dempster is 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA s his last five starts against the Brewers. This could be ugly...
7:06 - Dempster's career stats against Brewers. 15-3, 2.50 ERA. Is it too late to go back on this?
7:09 - Narveson has had pretty good success against the Cubs though so hopefully this pitching even outs. With that said the game will probably be seven to six by the third inning.
7:11 - Narveson's first pitch is hit for a single by Jeff Baker. That didn't take long, hopefully Narveson doesn't have one of his first inning melt-downs that he seems to have from time to time.
7:14 - Aramis Ramirez hits a 2-run homer on the first pitch. The first inning will always be Narveson's downfall.
7:19 - Corey Hart rips an 0-2 pitch for a double at the exact same time I open my first beer. This has to mean something.
7:21 - After two pathetic bunt attempts, Morgan strikesout on a pitch way out of the zone. Probably one of the worst at bats by a Brewer not named Yuniesky Betancourt all season.
7:24 - Braun's bat shatters in spectacular fashion and somehow finds room down the line for a double which scores Hart. 2-1 Cubs.
7:27 - Putting Weeks in the five spot has been one of the better things that Roenicke has done this season. He can produce so much more in this spot as compared to the leadoff spot.
7:28 - I can't stand hearing Cubs fans cheering when the game is at Miller Park. It makes me sick. I hate the Cubs.
7:30 - Casey McGehee hits an opposite field bullet that scores Braun and Fielder scores all the way from first. This of course happens just seconds after Brain Anderson says McGehee has some of his best moments against the Cubs. 3-2 Brewers.
7:38 - After a two-out triple, Narveson gets Dempter to pop up to Weeks to end the inning. Nice bounce back inning by Narveson who, if he follows his usual pattern, will surrender runs in the first and then go the next five or six innings allowing maybe two more baserunners. It will happen, just wait.
7:44 - Nice to see Miller Park pretty full on a Tuesday night. Looks like Milwaukee is getting swept up in Brewer fever! I can't believe I just typed that.
7:47 - To the hot girl that seems to be sitting in the front row of each Brewer's homegame, please give me your phone number. I won't actually call you but I will at least be able to brag to my friends. Lets make this happen.
7:55 - The Brewers are going to have a Craig Counsell bobble head day. I mean I like the guy, but is this really necessary?
7:58 - Narveson continues to baffle these Cubs hitters with his changeup. Its nice to see him continue to go to it and continue to get hitters out with it. Still looking for that perfect inning from Narveson but he has yet to give up any more runs so I am content with it so far. Still 3-2 Brewers after 2 and 1/2.
8:01- Nyjer Morgan strikes out on three pitches again. Is he even here to play today? Both of these at bats have looked half-assed.
8:05 - I have to say that Fielder's beard makes him look even more intimidating. Its not Brian Wilson level but its still pretty impressive. Its a shame it didn't help him avoid grounding into that inning-ending double play just now.
8:07 - I can't believe I'm saying this but I kind of wish that when I was watching MLB.TV they would have commercials. The dead silence is just so strange to me.
8:08- Brewers announcers say if they Brewers hold on to the lead it will be there 23rd come from behind victory of the season. It is currently the top of the 4th inning. To soon guys.
8:10 - CC Sabathia is currently perfect through six innings against the Mariners.
8:11 - Hey! Narveson finally has a clean inning. Three up, three down.
8:13 - MLB.com has a picture of Brian Wilson shaking Barrack Obama's hand while the team visited the white house. It could be one of the better pictures I have seen in my entire life.
8:16 - Betancourt has been hot since the all-star break, right around the same time I said I don't want to see him playing anymore. He must read my blog....On a related note he just got a hit and extends his hit streak to eight games.
8:18 - CC loses the perfect game and no hitter.
8:19 - An error by Bird in center gives runners at second and third with two outs for Narveson.....
8:21- ....who proceeds to ground out. No damage done but at least the pitcher spot is cleared for the next Brewer's at bat.
8:31 - Starlin Castro gets a swinging bunt and the Cubs fans cheer as if he just hit a grand slam. God I hate the Cubs.
8:34 - Ramirez flies out to the wall for a loud out number three. Narveson escapes with no runs given up. He's looked solid so far tonight but his pitch count is getting up there, currently 73. It would be nice to see the offense give him some extra runs so he has some more breathing room to continue pitching.
8:37 - Beer and baseball go hand-in-hand. Its the way god intended it to be. I'm sure you can find it in the bible somewhere.
8:39- Nyjer Morgan's great night continues. He just flew out to right on the first pitch. So far thats three at bats, seven pitches seen, two strikeouts and a flyout. I love Morgan but he is just not having a good night.
8:40- Dempter catches a ball that would have seriously taken his head off. Brewers do nothing. Still lead 3-2 after five innings of play.
8:42 - After watching the replay of the catch, that ball would have hit Dempster clearly on the side of the head. Could have been a very ugly situation.
8:47 - Narveson struggling with command and Kameron Loe is working in the bullpen. This game could get ugly very very fast.
8:48 - Bases loaded, no outs and Soriano coming up to bat. Time for another beer.
8:48 - Oh great, Loe coming in. Time for two beers possibly a third.
8:53 - Soriano grounds out to third but for some reason McGehee doesn't step on third and instead just throws home. So bases loaded and now one out.
8:54 - Sweet jesus! Double play! Cubs blow bases loaded, no outs opportunity!
8:56 - Texting conversation between my cousin and I, where we both are sure the end of the world is coming after Loe made an appearance without giving up any runs. It could be very well a sign of the apocalypse.
8:58 - I think this game will be a good blueprint for how the bullpen will be managed for the rest of the season. Loe in ground ball situations, Saiton/Hawkins for the 7th, K-rod for the 8th and Axford for the 9th. I like the sound of that.
9:11 - I still can't believe that the PIrates are in first place in the N.L. Central. Nobody saw that one coming, and if you say you did you are lying.
9:13 - It looks like Aramis Ramirez is always trying to hit home runs. He just about fell over after taking a swing that looked like he was trying to hit a home run and blow his shoulder out all with the same swing.
9:16 - Hawkins breaks Ramirez's bat and Prince catches the ball in foul territory. Brewers still up 3-2 after seven.
9:18 - I've resorted to opening Itunes and playing parts of songs to kill the time for commercial breaks. Seriously the dead silence during commercial breaks is driving me insane.
9:20 - A Craig Counsell sighting!
9:24 - I am still patiently awaiting the day where Corey Hart can lay off a slider low and away. Thats back-to-back he just swung and missed at in this at bat and probably the fourth time it has happened this game.
9:27 - K-rod is making his Miller Park debut. Although they didn't show it, I will assume he got a good hand from the Miller Park crowd. I'm just going to go ahead and say he did because I want to believe the Brewers fans were smart enough to applaud the new comer who will help us greatly for this pennant chase.
9:32 - K-rod goes 1-2-3 with two strikeouts and leaves to a standing ovation from the Brewer fans at Miller Park. If there is one way to be instantly liked by a fanbase like the Brewers its to perform when you are called upon. I have a good feeling K-rod will become a quick fan favorite in Milwaukee.
9:35 - It just fully dawned on me that nobody has scored since the first inning and the Brewers haven't really had any other chances to score since the first. This game should end fast before our luck runs out.
9:37 - Its really nice to see Braun play well again. He seems to be fully over that leg injury that was slowing him down these past couple of weeks.
9:45 - Brewers threaten but fail to add any more runs. Time for the Ax man to shut the door.
9:47 - Axford had a voting contest at the beginning of the season to see what song will play when he comes out to close and somehow this didn't win. If your going to be sporting a mustache like that all season how do you not use this song? In my never ending debate on what song would be my closer song I have finally come to a decision, and it has to be the theme from "The Good the Bad and the Ugly." Make it happen Axford!
9:49 - Number of times the TV crew has mentioned that McGehee used to play for the Cubs is up to five. I should have looked to place some bets on this.
9:57 - Strikes him out!! Axord gets the save! It wasn't a clean one but its his 25th consecutive save, which ties a franchise record. Brewers win 3-2 and improve to 55-49 and will remain a half game out of first because the Cardinals won tonight and the Pirates are still tied but a win is a win and hopefully this is the start of a winning streak.
Well there you have it. Hopefully that was enjoyable to read. I did my best to add in interesting comments but it was hard, seeing as the only runs scored where in the first inning. Like I said earlier, hopefully this is the start of a nice winning streak for the Brewers who could use this homestand to take first and possibly create some space between them and the Cardinals and Pirates. Seriously, it is so strange to say, "create space between them and the Pirates," I may never get over it.
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