Brewers Closers Blow Win

Hoffman Blows His Second Save of the Year

Brewers ahead 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth." title="Mat Gamel puts the Brewers ahead 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth." width="395" height="512" />

Mat Gamel puts the Brewers ahead 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth.

The Milwaukee Brewers fought a tough game Friday night against the best in the league and won.

Well, almost.

The Dodgers scored most of their 12 runs from the five home runs they hit, including an extra-innings grand slam by Matt Kemp that sealed the comeback.

The Brewers came out fighting after their previous series losses to the Cubs and Cardinals. Every time the Dodgers scored, the Crew had an answer.

In the first inning, after giving up a run, Milwaukee got RBI from Mat Gamel and Mike Cameron.  When LA homered in the fourth, J.J. Hardy countered with a home run of his own.

In the sixth inning Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin homered, and Frank Catanalotto and Hardy each had an RBI. This was how it worked until the eighth inning, when Gamel homered to put the Brewers up and set up the save for Trevor Hoffman.

In the ninth, however, the Dodgers were swinging early against the all-time saves leader as he blew his second save of the season, sending the game to extra innings.

And LA would only need one. In the top of the tenth, Carlos Villanueva continued his troubling ways giving up two runs before Matt Kemp hit a Grand Slam off of him.

At that point, Seth McClung took over and closed down the inning. In the bottom frame Catalanotta and Hardy again had an RBI each, however, the Brewers were unable to make up the other four runs, losing 12-8 in 10 innings.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only Brewer fan livid with both Trevor Hoffman and Carlos Villanueva Friday night. For some reason, I found myself blaming Ned Yost as well.

Huh! Oh well. Tomorrow’s a new day.