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Sunday, July 27, 2008

MLB.com: Brewers rally for share of first place

Ryan Braun and Bill Hall continued their late-game heroics, guiding the Brewers to a 6-4 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday at Miller Park to move Milwaukee into a tie with the Chicago Cubs for first place in the National League Central.

Braun, who hit a game-winning homer in the ninth in St. Louis on Thursday, hit a game-tying two-run blast with two outs in the seventh on Saturday. Hall, who hit go-ahead homers in the final innings on Monday and Tuesday, delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth against Doug Brocail (4-5) to snap the tie.
...
Eric Gagne (4-2) pitched a perfect eighth for the win, and Salomon Torres secured his 20th save.

The 2007 Cubs, after a sluggish start, plugged away and caught the first-place Brewers for the first time on August 1 last year, with the rest of the season turning into a see-saw battle.
The 2008 Brewers (60-44) sputtered for a month and a half, but finally accomplished the same feat against the Cubs (60-44), just a couple of days sooner.

NTNgod Posted: July 27, 2008 at 02:16 AM | 11 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: astros, brewers, game recaps

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1. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 27, 2008 at 02:44 AM (#2876024)

I was thinking of the eerie similarities between this season and last year with the two team's roles reversed. I can't imagine the Cubs' offense remaining this bad, but any chance they had to take the competitive aspect out of this division is long gone. Even if the Cubs can get things back on track and win the division, it's going down to the wire like last year.

At this point, the Brewers look like the team that's coming out as Central winners. I'm reminded of the old adage that a team is never as good or bad as they look. I doubt the Brewers will maintain such a torrid pace, but they've done the necessary work to catch up to the boys on the North Side.

2. Leroy Kincaid Posted: July 27, 2008 at 03:02 AM (#2876077)

Good. I'm rooting for the Brewers - as I did last year. Bleep the Cubs and their fans.

3. The Curly W Theory Posted: July 27, 2008 at 03:46 AM (#2876173)

Thanks, Leroy. Good to know you've got my back.

4. NTNgod Posted: July 27, 2008 at 04:01 AM (#2876208)

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

Incredibly, the Brewers have made up five games on the Cubs in a span of only nine games since the all-star break. That’s what happens when you go 8-1 and the leaders finally falter.

“It is incredible to make up five games this quick,” said Braun, who drove in four runs to continue his torrid July. “Last year, we realized the significance of playing well in the second half.”

For Brewers fans, it has been a delicious bit of role reversal. Last season, the Brewers led the Cubs by 8½ games on June 23, only to have Chicago catch them by the first of August and go on to claim the division.

This year, the Brewers trailed the Cubs by that same 8½-game margin on June 16. By going 24-11 since that date, the Brewers have drawn even with Chicago, which comes to town Monday for a much-anticipated four-game series.

So it took the Cubs 39 days last year to fully erase the 8½ games, while it took the Brewers 40 days. Close enough :P

5. RJ in TO Posted: July 27, 2008 at 04:28 AM (#2876270)

Looking at the box score, I must say that I'm surprised at how good a season Carlos Lee seems to be having again. While the last couple years of that deal are still likely to be bad, Houston has to be pretty pleased with the first two seasons.

Also, Ryan Braun is an absolute beast.

6. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 27, 2008 at 06:02 AM (#2876307)

Well, one big difference between this year and last is that the loser of the division race is probably going to claim the wild card. They're both better than their 2007 selves.

7. Scatterbrain Posted: July 27, 2008 at 06:11 AM (#2876313)

Ryan Braun the Hebrew Hammer

8. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:06 AM (#2876370)

As I have already pointed out multiple times, Doug Melvin has created a roster that works around his manager's weaknesses. Most obviously, the Brewer starters lead the league in IP by starters which reduces the need of the bullpen. Since Yost, by his own admission mind you, struggles in.managing a bullpen this can only be a positive.

The defense is better. Mike Cameron and Jason Kendall are making all the plays plus some.

JJ Hardy is arguably the second best SS in the NL.

Corey Hart is NOT Rich Gedman. Not gonna let Jaffe forget that.

And he's the "Brauntasaurus". That's my suggestion.

9. retro-shiite Posted: July 27, 2008 at 12:49 PM (#2876385)

Bleep the Cubs and their fans.

Love you too, jackass.

10. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)