Yovani Gallardo squared off against another rookie pitcher Friday evening, the Phils’ Kyle Kendrick…and Gallardo proved that he was just a bit better, beating the red-hot Phillies, 2-1. The Brewers’ bats gave Gallardo support early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first, when Prince Fielder doubled with two outs to drive in Corey Hart from second. Gallardo retired the next 13 batters in a row, and didn’t allow his second hit of the game until the 6th, when it was Kendrick that tagged him for a single. Gallardo also collected a hit an inning earlier, eventually sliding into home with the eventual game-winning run after fellow rookie Ryan Braun drove him in. Gallardo finished 6.67 IP, allowed just the 1 ER on 4 hits, walking 1, and striking out 7. Gallardo upped his record to 4-1, while lowering his ERA to 2.55. Brian Shouse got the last out of the 7th, Derrick Turnbow fanned 2 in a scoreless eighth, while Coco Cordero struck out the side in the 9th to earn his 33rd save of the season. With the Cubs’ loss earlier in the day, the Brewers re-claimed sole possession of first, now 1.0 up on the Cubs (tied in the loss column). The Phils’ send their ace, Cole Hamels (12-5, 3.50) against Dave Bush (9-8, 4.87). The Brewers’ bats have fared well against southpaws in ’07, including Ryan Braun (.478 BA, .543 OBP), Johnny Estrada (.336 BA, .345 OBP), Kevin Mench (.320 BA, .349 OBP), and Corey Hart (.308 BA, .400 OBP). Bush saw the Phils back on May 13th, a game the Phils eventually won, 8-6. Bush however, only gave up 2 ER in 5.33 IP, with 4 strikeouts and just 4 hits. Hamels pitched the finale of that series, on May 16th, and retired the first 18 hitters, eventually getting the win in 8 IP after having fanned 11 Brewers…only J.J. Hardy and Damian Miller got hits that day…but the Crew is in Miller Park tonight, so who knows what might happen?
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