Boxscore

The Brewers continue to have problems reaching .500, let alone moving past it. Manager Ned Yost has been with the team for 6 years now, and I have to think that his seat is warming up. (Not that the injuries to their pitching staff are his fault. The loss of Torrealba was significant.)

In a game that was close until the 5th, Milwaukee mustered only 6 hits and 1 run, and that on a solo shot by Russell Branyan. I was surprised to see his name pop up. Branyan had a homer, a strikeout, and two walks on the day, so it’s nice to see he’s still his same old Three True Outcomes self.

The Brewers next host the Astros tonight at 8:05pm EDT, hoping to gain some Central ground with Manny Parra starting against Brandon Backe.

Boxscore

More often than not, Roy Oswalt has struggled this year. So much so, that he was given plenty of time off for this start against the Cardinals. He was better. In fact, he ended up in a pitching duel with Kyle Lohse.

Ultimately, Lohse won, thanks to a bit more offense and the power of ex-Reds in the bullpen. Ron Villone and Ryan Franklin both pitched in relief, with Franklin getting his fourth save. Amazing to see how he’s excelled in relief with St. Louis. It makes me shake me head in wonder.

The Astros travel to Milwaukee and send Brandon Backe against Manny Parra at 8:05pm EDT. Meanwhile, the Cardinals stay at home to host the Pirates, with Zach Duke starting against Todd Wellemeyer at 8:15pm EDT.

Boxscore

Dusty Baker showed that he continues to favor Corey Patterson when he started him over Jay Bruce last night. It’s–wait, Patterson was sent to AAA? And Bruce started?

Surely, Bruce plummeted to earth after his impossible to live up to first major league start of his career. I mean, no one–oh, he went 1 for 3 with 2 walks. I see. But he made two outs! Aha! That’s fallibility if ever I saw it!

So the Pirates finally managed to record an out against Jay Bruce last night, proving that he is slightly human. It took them a long time to record three against the Reds in the first inning, though, not accomplishing that feat until two pitchers had been used and 6 runs had scored. Even with Bronson Arroyo pitching on short rest, the Pirates didn’t have much of a chance after that.

The new-look, starting-to-make-sensible-choices Reds won, wresting fifth place from Pittsburgh, thanks to Arroyo, the ex-Pirate. Tonight, an ex-Red tries to grab fifth place back when Phil Dumatrait faces Aaron Harang at 7:10pm EDT.

Boxscore

When Takashi Saito took the mound in the 9th with a one-run lead for the Dodgers, I could tell it wouldn’t last. There was that feeling in the air. Well, that and the heart of the Cubs lineup coming up.

Sure enough, the Cubs loaded the bases and scored on a sacrifice fly, setting up the dramatic walk-off win and the laurel of hero for the much-maligned Alfonso Soriano. Now he gets to be a hero for a day, until the next time he drops a fly ball.

Having swept the Dodgers, the Cubs now host the Rockies tonight at 8:05pm EDT. Jeff Francis and Jason Marquis are the starters.

Boxscore

Adam Wainwright dominated the Astros last night, allowing three hits and one run in 8 innings. Oh yeah, and he fanned eight Astros. Should Chris Carpenter ever return, he and Wainwright would make a dynamite one-two punch for St. Louis. Of course, that’s very similar to Chicago’s refrain over last few years.

Benjie Molina and Cesar Izturis drove in the bulk of the Cardinals runs, while the Astros lone run came from a Ty Wiggington solo shot. Whenever Izturis has a good game, it seems to spell doom for whoever’s facing the Cardinals. If only he had them more than once every month or so.

Roy Oswalt, starting off 6 days rest, hopes to get things figured out tonight at 8:15pm EDT when he starts against Kyle Lohse.

Holy crap!

By which I am referring to crappy play that Dusty Baker seemed to regard as holy, coming from Corey Patterson. Somehow, however, cooler heads have prevailed and Mr. 9-outs-in-one-game has been optioned to AAA Louisville.

Don’t believe me? Read it for yourself.

The contract of Andy Phillips has been selected to take his spot on the roster.

Boxscore

Yes, there were other games in the Central last night, but really, none of them can approach the significance or the lasting impact of the Pirates-Reds game last night. Plus, thanks to preparing a birthday party for my kid, I have time for only one game wrap today.

In case you hadn’t heard, uber-prospect Jay Bruce premiered for the Reds last night, and he didn’t disappoint. In fact, no one’s gotten him out yet. Bruce’s line: 3 for 3, with two walks, two runs scored, two RBI, and a steal.

Not everyone was impressed, though.

Johnny Cueto threw too many pitches, but got the win thanks to an Adam Dunn home run. The bullpen made it a little closer, but Francisco Corder closed things out again.

Ian Snell started well for the Pirates, but Cincinnati figured him out the second time facing him. They did have enough offense to win, had they gotten anything resembling good pitching.

The same two teams again today, although Baker will be tempted to sit Bruce against the Pirates, thus ensuring the Reds loss. Tom Gorzelanny starts against Bronson Arroyo at 7:10pm EDT.

The Reds have announced that they have sold the contract of Minor League RHP Justin Lehr to the Doosan Bears of the Korean Professional League. What they have not yet announced but is apparently common knowledge in Korea, is that Red Hot Mama favorite Tom Shearn will be joining him, barring unforeseen circumstances.

I wish Tom the best of luck, though I sure wouldn’t have minded if Cincinnati had realized that they could have used him right about now.

Boxscore

The Cubs continued their struggling on the road/dominating at home trend yesterday by, well, dominating the Dodgers at home.

Ryan Dempster continues to perplex everyone who’s paid any attention at all to his career by being a very good starting pitcher. And Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez continue to show their an impressive force in any lineup, as they both homered, providing all of Chicago’s runs.

The same two teams play again today at 7:05pm EDT when Hiroki Kuroda takes on Sean Gallagher.

Boxscore

It took 11 innings, but the Brewers finally saw through the beery haze and found their giant fly swatter–behind the keg, naturally–and dealt with the Nationals.

Ben Sheets was solid in his start, but was only around for six innings. No injury forced him out, though, as manager Ned Yost opted to pinch hit for him in the sixth. The game-winning run came in the 11th when Gabe Kapler singled in Prince Fielder. Salomon Torres then pitched the bottom of the inning for the save.

Milwaukee returns home to host Tim Hudson and the Braves at 8:05pm EDT. Dave Bush will start for the Brewers.