What usually happens when your starting pitcher gives up 4 runs in the first inning? Well, unless the offense can battle back, you usually lose. So after Prince Fielder hit his 33rd home run of the year in the top of the 2nd to cut the deficit to 4-1, Claudio Vargas needed to shut the door. Instead, Vargas allowed 2 more runs…and the Crew’s offense could only muster a solo home run in the 4th to lose the first game at Colorado, 6-2. To his credit, Vargas did settle down and pitch a scoreless 3rd through 7th; Yost, bullpen depleted save Chris Spurling, either decided to show confidence in Vargas…or let him sink or swim. Meanwhile, Josh Fogg held the Brewers to just 7 hits in 7.0 IP. So, as easy as it is to blame Vargas for the hole, the deficit was not that insurmountable…0-for-4 nights by J.J. Hardy in the #2 slot and Kevin Mench in the #5 slot didn’t help. Only Geoff Jenkins had a multi-hit night, going 2-for-3, including a double. Thankfully, the Astros beat the Cubs, so the lead is still 1 game. Chris Capuano gets the start tonight.
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