warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

MLB Playoffs - Gallardo Silences D-Backs As Brewers Win Game 1

Danny Lee |
October 1, 2011 | 7:34 p.m. PDT

Staff Writer

The Brewers' ace was dynamite to give Milwaukee a 1-0 series lead. (Spaluch1/Neon Tommy)
The Brewers' ace was dynamite to give Milwaukee a 1-0 series lead. (Spaluch1/Neon Tommy)
Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo allowed just one run in eight innings to lead the Brewers to a 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday at Miller Park, in Game 1 of the best-of-five NL division series.

Gallardo registered nine strikeouts, allowed four hits and retired the side on four occasions to pick up his third win against Arizona this year. The Brewers right-hander entered Saturday's game having registered double-digit strikeout totals in his three previous starts.

Before the game, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke decided to insert Jerry Hairston Jr. at third base over the slumping Casey McGehee for an offensive jolt, and the move paid off.

Hairston Jr. broke up the scoreless pitchers' duel between Gallardo and Arizona's Ian Kennedy in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to score Ryan Braun. Milwaukee had jumpstarted the inning with hits from Braun and Prince Fielder before Kennedy plunked Rickie Weeks on the hip to load the bases.

Milwaukee made it 2-0 in the sixth on a Jonathan Lucroy two-out bloop single to left field that scored Yuniesky Betancourt. Two more insurance runs came in the seventh inning when Braun got on with a two-out double, which paved the way for Fielder to deliver a two-run homer that gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead.

Arizona finally dented the scoreboard on a Ryan Roberts solo home run to deep center field in the eighth inning.

The D-Backs are expected to send Daniel Hudson up against the Brewers' Zack Greinke for Game 2 when the series resumes on Sunday at 2:07 p.m.

Key moment: The Diamondbacks led the major leagues with 48 comeback wins during the regular season, and appeared to have another one in the works in the eighth inning with the Roberts solo shot. But Gallardo settled in to strike out the next three batters to end any chance of a rally.

Game-Changer: Arizona's decision to pitch to Fielder with first base open and two outs in the seventh inning was a costly one. The burly slugger placed Kennedy's 0-1 offering into the right field bleachers to give Milwaukee a 4-0 lead.

Play of the Game: The game remained scoreless with one out in the first inning when Braun threw Willie Bloomquist out at home as the Arizona shortstop tried to score from second on a Justin Upton single to left field.

Unsung Hero: Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder might get all the headlines, but the Brewers’ six-through-nine hitters produced three hits and two runs without striking out.

--------------

Reach Danny by email or follow him on Twitter.

Best way to find more great content from Neon Tommy?

Or join our email list below to enjoy the weekly Neon Tommy News Highlights.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness