Brewers-Mets: Brewers Take GameTwo of Three, 6-3

Johan Santana once said, "It doesn't matter how long you have been up here. You have to prove you can do the job. And you have to work hard."

31-year-old journeyman Mike Burns is no stranger to hard work. 

In 2005, he worked in 27 games for the Houston Astros.  2006 he worked in 18 games for the Reds and the Red Sox.  He has spent most of his career working in the minor leagues.  It wasn't until 2009 that he got work again the in The Show. 

Tonight, he was given the chance to face off against two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana.  Burns delivered in a big way for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Burns (1-1) went six-and-two-thirds innings allowing five hits, two earned runs, and did what was asked of him.  Go deep into the game, and give the bullpen a chance to win it for him. 

If you followed the game, Burns' stat line would have come as a suprise to most.  Just 16 pitches into his second start he allowed a two-run home run to David Wright.  After allowing a single to shallow left center from Gary Sheffield,  Burns then retired the next nine batters. 

As strong of a performance as Burns posted, the help always has to come from the offense.  Tonight, Ryan Braun delivered going 3-for-4 and four RBI and a run scored.

Johan Santana (9-6) didn't have his usual stuff tonight and the Brewers tagged him for nine hits, six runs, five earned, and he walked four and struck out four.  He was in line with Burns until the fourth inning.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning and the bases loaded, Bruan doubled to deep left scoring Mike Burns, J.J. Hardy, and Corey Hart.  Braun also scored on Santana's throwing error to make it a 5-2 Brewers lead. 

With two out in the top of the seventh, Mark DiFelice relieved Burns to a standing ovation sell out crowd at Miller Park.

Then in the Brewers seventhm Prince Fielder hit his 20th home run of the season to make the score 6-3 Brewers.  That would be all the Brewers needed tonight. 

Todd Coffee pitched one-and-one-third innings giving up three hits and a home run to Fernando Martinez before getting Omir Santos to ground out to the end the game. 

Tomorrow, the Brewers play Game Three against the New York Mets in an early afternoon game.  If the Crew can sweep the Mets, it will hand the Mets their longest losing streak in nearly four years. 

Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo (8-4) will face off against Mike Pelfrey (5-3) at 1:05pm CST.