Kapler Salvages Series for Crew

I'll tell you one thing, I was not ready to write up a game recap had the Brewers lost today, especially after that controversial home run from Dmitri Young in the 8th inning. I was not ready to write a recap after a 1-3 series loss to the Nationals. Thankfully, Gabe Kapler comes through once again, and the Brewers have a victory, and you have your recap.

With a 3 game set in Pittsburgh, and 4 games in Washington, I was hoping for the Brewers to go 5-2. They ended up going 3-4, and 3-7 total on the road trip, as they are now 3 games under .500. They still have a lot of work to do, as we've mentioned, but it's a lot better to return home with momentum than it would be on the downturn.

Things didn't look good initially, as the Brew fell down 2-0, despite a decent six inning outing from Ben Sheets. The Brewers then put some runners on in the 7th, and up to bat came Jason Kendall. Kendall hit out of the 8th spot today, after another lineup switch from manager Ned Yost. You could tell Yost was nervous when Kendall came to bat in the 7th, as he feared our catcher may hit into a double play and end the inning, and their best chance at a comeback. Kendall delivered though with an RBI single, and then Joe Dillon drove in the next run to tie the game for Milwaukee 2-2.

The Brewers added a run in the eighth, but were matched when Dmitri Young hit a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning. Young's hit was initially ruled a triple, but was quickly reversed by the umps into the game-tying home run. Washington doesn't have a yellow home run line on their outfield wall, so you couldn't really tell where the ball hit. I'm not sure if they got the call right or not, but at that point you felt like luck just wasn't on Milwaukee's side. The home run started a mini-tirade from my brother, who I was watching the game with, about how baseball is too archiac of a game and needs instant replay (he also said that there needs to be no DH and a salary cap, it was a pretty detailed rant). Nevertheless, the game was tied at 3.

The game headed to extras, after a solid outing from our bullpen, including Carlos Villanueva. Gabe Kapler then brought Prince home in the 11th, and Solomon Torres closed out the game for the save. Villanueva earned his 3rd win of the season for his efforts.

The Brewers are now headed back to Milwaukee for a 3 game set with the Braves, and hopefully can benefit to the return to some home-cookin', as Brian Anderson would say.

Box Score.

TBC's Player of the Game: Gabe Kapler

(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)