Brewers 10 Mets 6: Game One of Three

Back on June 23, the Milwaukee Brewers hosted the Minnesota Twins to start a nine-game homestand before visiting the Chicago Cubs for four games at Wrigley starting July 2.  The Brewers then finish with another six games at home.

That series against the Twins still left a lot to be desired by the Brewers faithful.  After going one of three in that series, most fans are happy to see the Twins go away until next season.

However, after the 10-6 victory over the visiting New York Mets last night, the Brewers are 3-3 on the homestand (21-17) and looking to solidify their lead in the National League Central.

Braden Looper worked the mound last night looking for his sixth win of the year. More importantly, he was after a quality start for Brewers manager Ken Macha.  Looper delivered just that.  Working six and one-thirds innings and 100 pitches, he allowed only one earned run. 

However, what started out as a 3-0 Brewers lead and what seemed like a hold on the Mets quickly vanished.

With two outs in the sixth inning and a man on first base the Mets' Fernando Martinez hit an easy pop-fly to third baseman Casey McGehee.  That ball ended up at McGehee's feet, off his glove, and the third baseman was charged with a costly error.

The next batter was Brian Schneider who drove a two-run double off the wall that stopped the momentum Looper had built up all game dead in its tracks.  Looper retired the Mets in the sixth to the sound of boos toward McGehee from the 39,872 at Miller Park.

For Brewers fans, listening to Bob Uecker on the radio is a great way to catch baseball if you don't have chance to see it on the tube.  For some people it is the only way they follow the Brewers.  Last night was a particularly great night to be listening to Ueck announce the game. 

After J.J. Hardy lined a shot past Martinez the Brewers had runners on second and third with just one out.  Ryan Braun popped out, and Mets pitcher Brain Stokes intentionally walked Prince Fielder to load the bases with two outs.  Next to the plate was none other than third baseman Casey McGehee.

Stokes left a high fastball over the plate that McGehee drove into deep left center field.  Bob Uecker's famous "Get up! Get outta here! Gone!"  was a spine-tingling announcement as McGehee drove out his first career grand slam, giving the Brewers a 7-2 lead. 

The scapegoat of the sixth inning had become the savior of the sixth inning and what was once boos from the home crowd later turned into a request for a curtain call. This was also the first time in his career that McGehee had been asked to step out of the dugout in front of nearly 40,000 fans.

Looper was replaced in the seventh with one out by Todd Coffee after giving up a triple and a walk.  Coffee struck out David Wright only to give up a Gary Sheffield infield single to make the score 7-3. Coffee was then replaced by Mitch Stetter who struck out Ryan Church to end the seventh.

After getting a Billy Hall double in the seventh, a Corey Hart double in the eighth and a Hall single in the eighth the score was now 10-3 going into the ninth inning.

Carlos Villanueva came on to close out the ninth.  Sadly, Carlos' night continued his season of struggles.  After Argenis Reyes popped out, Murphy doubled to deep left center.  Then David Wright doubled to deep left to make it 10-4. 

Then Sheffield homered to left center to make it 10-6.  After Church and Martinez both singled Villanueva was pulled for closer Trevor Hoffman.

Hoffman pitched to Brian Schneider who grounded into a double play to end the game, and gave Hoffman his 18th save of the season.

Tonight the Brewers will send Mike Burns (0-1 3.72 ERA) on the mound to face-off against Mets' ace Johan Santana (9-5 3.08 ERA). 

Santana is no stranger to the Brewers.  He is 4-2 with a 2.96 ERA in eight starts against the Brewers.

For Burns, he looks to notch his first major win in his second start.  When Dave Bush was placed on the IR, Burns was called up from Triple-A Nashville. 

In his first start against the Twins, Burns allowed four runs and six hits over five and two-thirds innings, while walking three and striking out three.