Defense, homers power Crew to victory

From Monday, August 15th, 2011
Brewers 3, Dodgers 0
W: Wolf (10-8) L: Lilly (7-13) SV: Axford (35)

Four double plays and a triple play capped off a great night defensively for the Brewers. The defense would have been nothing it was not for the three home-runs that propelled Milwaukee to victory.

Randy Wolf had another stellar performance as he seems to be getting better as the season wears on. Wolf pitched eight innings of no-run baseball and gave up six hits. He had men on in four of the eight innings and he allowed a season-high five walks, but double plays quickly took care of all that. Randy also lowered his ERA to 3.30, best among the Brewers starting rotation.

It is no surprise Wolf is pitching so well in a pennant race. He is a solid veteran with a lot of experience to contribute to this young team.  Randy is exactly what the Brewers need in the middle of their starting five and as long as he stays healthy, he will keep on pitching gems.

In the second inning with men on at first and second, James Loney hit a hard ball just past the outreached arm of Wolf. Josh Wilson made a great pick up and scooped it in one motion out of his glove to Yuniesky Betancourt, who was waiting for the ball at second. Betancourt than fired to Prince Fielder at first base for the second out. Fielder noticed Matt Kemp making a break for home and quickly threw a perfect ball to George Kottaras, who put an excellent tag on Kemp before he could touch the plate. The umpire rang him up for the sixth triple play in Milwaukee Brewer history.

Kemp attempted to make the argument he was safe, but replays showed he was definitely out. His right arm actually slid past home plate without ever touching it. If he had only extended his arm inward, history would be told differently.

The next inning another dynamic play occurred. After rookie Dioner Navarro hit a ground-rule double, Justin Sellers singled to center field. Jerry Hairston picked up the ball and hurled a rocket home as Navarro was rounding third. The ball met Kottaras perfectly as he tagged Dioner in stride for the first out.

In the fourth inning Hairston was at it again, but this time it was a different play. Wolf issued a walk to Andre Ethier and had to face Matt Kemp with one on. Kemp hit a blooper to shallow right center where Hairston came crashing in hard and dove to make the miraculous catch. Ethier was so sure that the ball was going to drop that he was already rounding second. Hairston got up and threw to first base for the amazing double play.

After all the outstanding defense it was time for the Brewers to take advantage and put some runs on the board, enter Ryan Braun. With an 0-2 count, Ted Lilly tried to put the ball up above the strike zone to get Ryan to chase. Fortunately, the ball did not get as high as intended and Braun crushed it deep to left center field. It ended the no-hit threat and gave Milwaukee a lead they would not relinquish.

Jonathan Lucroy hit a pinch-hit homer to left field and Corey Hart followed with a solo-shot of his own in the bottom of the eighth inning to give John Axford some insurance. It was Lucroy's ninth and Hart's 18th of the year respectively.

The Axe-Man came in to close the game. After getting one out, Kemp reached base on a single. Juan Rivera then lined out to Prince Fielder who stepped on the bag for the unassisted double play to end the game. Very fitting for a team that just had their best defensive effort of the season.