Zack Attack

Brewers 5, Rays 1
W: Grienke (7-2) L: Hellickson (7-6)

Zack Grienke knew the Brewers needed a win badly and so did his manager. Ron Roenicke apparently talked to Zack and told him that the team needed a big game out of him, Grienke was clearly up to the challenge.

Grienke struck out ten batters over seven innings in which he gave up only one earned run. The ten strike outs makes it the 12th time in his career in which he had double digits K's. Zack made the Rays look foolish all night with none of them ever coming close. His ability to pitch like that will take the Brewers a long way this season.

"Three plus pitches...you never know what to expect," said Johnny Damon before the game. "As a hitter you are pretty much playing a guessing game with him."

Damon went 0 for 4 with two strike outs, but it was his defense that really hurt the Rays. The Brewers had bases loaded in the first inning thanks to three walks. Casey McGehee hit a pop up to shallow left field. Weeks tagged up and got home with ease as Damon never even attempted a throw. His defense would only get worse.

Yuniesky Betancourt hit his fourth home run of the season, first since May 20, to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the second inning. This would remain the score until the seventh when Grienke would finally give up a run to B.J. Upton. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Ryan Braun hit a two-run single to give the Brewers some breathing room.

The next at-bat Johnny Damon's defense would hurt the Rays again, when Prince Fielder singled to left field. Josh Wilson got waved in before he even came close to third base, as Damon scooped the ball and threw a floater that barely got to home plate. Wilson leaped over the catcher and home plate as the ball bounced past him. The pitcher who was backing up home threw the ball to the catcher as Wilson crawled to touch the plate before the tag was applied. A thrilling play that never should have happened if it wasn't for Damon's poor throw.

The Brewers got a much needed overall team win. As for Shaun Marcum pitching Wednesday afternoon, the chances are looking good.

"They didn't trade for me to sit here and watch games," explained Marcum to reporters before the game. "When it's my day to get the ball, I want to go out there and pitch."