Phillies-Brewers - Series Recap

The Brewers took two of three from the Phillies. The season series was won by the Phillies 4-3.

Friday - Brewers win 2-1: Yovani Gallardo came up with a big-time performance for the Brewers Friday night at Miller Park. Not only did Gallardo pitch a great game for the Crew, he only also had a single and scored the winning run with a great slide. Gallardo pitched six and two thirds inning, gave up one run and struck out seven. He picked up his fourth win of the season.

The Brewers scored their first run of the game when Prince Fielder singled home Corey Hart in the first inning. Hart was able knock to the ball out of Phillies catcher Chris Coste's glove at homeplate. Gallardo scored the winning run in the fifth inning on a single by Ryan Braun. Pat Burrell brought the Phillies within one with a homer in the seventh inning. But, that would be as close as the Phillies would get. Francisco Cordero struck out the side in the ninth to pick up the save, his 33rd of the year.

Saturday - Brewers win 6-5: Fielder had a huge night for the Crew Saturday night at Miller Park. He came up with a big two-run homer in the eighth innng that completed the Brewers' comeback against the Phillies. Also, Fielder had an RBI single in the sixth inning that brought the Brewers within one run.

The Brewers struck first in the game with a Ryan Braun solo homer in the first inning. Dave Bush had a 1-2-3 first inning but things did not go as well in the second inning. Ryan Howard led off the inning with a solo home run to tie the game at one. Then two batters later, Burrell hit a two-run homer that also scored Aaron Rowand who reached on a walk. The Phillies added to their lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run by Greg Dobbs. While the Phillies added to their lead, Cole Hamels was shutting down the Brewers. The Phillies scored their last run of the game in the sixth when Carlos Ruiz doubled home Dobbs who also doubled.

The Crew started their comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tony Graffanino was able to beat out a grounder down the first base line to start the inning. Graffanino slid head first into first base to miss the tag of Howard. New Brewer Joe Dillon then pinch hit for Brian Shouse and also reached on an infield hit. Two batters later, J.J. Hardy hit a two-run double that scored Graffanino and Dillon. Fielder then brought the Brewers within one with a single that scored Hardy. Two innings later, Fielder hit a two-run homer to give the Brewers the lead for good. Cordero pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up the save. It was not an ordinary 1-2-3 inning though. All three outs were fly outs to Corey Hart. With one out, Tadahito Iguchi hit a high fly ball to right field that looked like a homer but Hart snatched it at the top of right field wall to rob Iguchi of a home run.

Sunday - Phillies win 8-6: This game ended up being very similar to two games from the Brewers' last roadtrip. The Brewers started fast with a four-run lead in the first inning off Phillies starter Adam Eaton. Kevin Mench doubled in Hart for the first run. Then, Geoff Jenkins doubled in Fielder and Mench. Damian Miller brought in the final run of the inning also with a double. The Brewers added to their lead in the fifth inning with two more runs. Ryan Braun hit a solo homer, his 20th of the year. Jenkins singled home Mench who doubled to reach base.

The Phillies picked up their first run of the game in the sixth inning on a single by Rowand that scored Iguchi. The Brewers had a five-run lead going into the ninth inning. Matt Wise started the inning and gave up a two-run homer to Jason Werth that also scored Wes Helms who reached on a fielding error by Wise. Cordero came in to replace Wise because the Phillies pulled within three runs and Wise looked lost on the mond. The Brewers' closer quickly picked up two outs. However, after that things fell apart. A walk by Jimmy Rollins, a single by Iguchi and another walk by Burrell loaded the bases. Cordero then hit Howard with a pitch to score Rollins. Rowand hit a groundball to the left side that just got past the glove of Braun and into left field. Braun was charged with his 16th error of the season. That tied the game at six and then the game went into extra innings. Helms came up with the game-winning hit in the 11th inning for the Phillies on a two-run double that scored Howard and Rowand. The Brewers loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but Craig Counsell lined out sharply to Iguchi to end the game.