For the second straight game, the Brewers blew a 5 run lead, but this time they were able to recover in time for the win. This game marked the first time the Brewers played less than 7 innings in 2001, mostly due to the fact that the first 2 innings took forever to complete. All 14 runs in the game were scored in the first 2 innings. The Braves jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first when "Brewer killer" Jonas Malcolm hit an RBI double and got to third after the Brewers kicked it around a little. Brewers starter Mike Gazo got out of the inning by picking off a Braves runner on first base.
The Brewers then came up in the bottom of the 1st against Braves starter Ryan Hobbins. After Jon Zywicki walked, Matt Beelen quickly gave the Brewers the lead by hitting a 2 run homer to left field. The Brewers didn't stop there though, as Dave Rivers singled, stole second, and then scored along with Mark Keenan when Frank Macera doubled to left center. Later in the inning, Mike Gazo hit an RBI single with the bases loaded and Zywicki got an RBI fielder's choice to make the score 6-1 after 1 inning.
The Braves didn't quit though, as they struck back immediately. After Darren Keating doubled to lead off the 2nd, Ryan Hobbins went deep into the trees at the Sportsplex. Two outs later, Brian Samuel came up with 2 runners on and hit a 3 run homer to tie the game at 6.
This score didn't last long either, as the Brewers Mark Keenan hit a solo shot with one out in the bottom of the 2nd off the top of the left center wall. Later in the inning after a hit by pitch, single and error, Gazo got hit by a pitch as well to score another run. Hobbins was able to get Zywicki to line out to right field to get out of the inning only down 8-6.
Both pitchers let 2 runners get on base in the 3rd and 4th, but neither team scored in both innings. In the 5th, after a lead off walk by Keating, Gazo was pulled in favour of Mike Gingerich who promptly induced a 5-4-3 double play and eventually got out of the inning.
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the 5th, the Braves looked to tie it up in the 6th as Malcolm singled and the Brewers made an error to put runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 out, but Gingerich was able to induce another ground ball to second base and get the save in an 8-6 win for the Brewers.
Player of the Game: Mike Gingerich...pitching : 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk,
0 runs, 1 K, Save.
(Too many offensive stars)
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