WP: Randy Wolf (1-0)
LP: Greg Smith (0-1)
SV: Trevor Hoffman (1)
HR: Casey McGehee (1), Rickie Weeks (1), Ian Stewart (2)
At last, our longtime state-wide nightmare is over — the Brewers have defeated the Colorado Rockies after seven straight losses.
Randy Wolf made his Brewers debut, and after a rough first two innings in which he gave up a run apiece, he settled down nicely to get credit for his first Brewers win. He allowed 4 earned runs on 9 hits in 6.2 innings of work, but struck out 8 Rockies and didn’t walk anyone. Frankly, if he pitches like this every night, it’ll be $30 million pretty well spent.
He wasn’t the only new face to make his Brewer debut tonight, as LaTroy Hawkins made a good first impression as the team’s new set-up man. He was about as dominant as you could be in one inning’s worth of work, striking out the first and third batters of the 8th inning, and making a nice play on a ball hit up the middle in between.
The Brewers gave Trevor Hoffman a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th, and it’s a good thing they did. Hoffman got off to a shaky start in his first appearance of the year, allowing a triple to Ian Stewart. Stewart eventually scored, but Hoffman was able to stop the damage there to pick up career save #592.
Offensively, Casey McGehee provided a bulk of the offense with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 1st inning after it seemed like Colorado starter Greg Smith didn’t want anything to do with Prince Fielder. Fielder showed great patience at the plate all night, drawing a second walk while going 2-for-2 with a double and 3 runs scored.
Carlos Gomez cooled off considerably after a hot Opening Day, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Alcides Escobar also continued to struggle, although he did pick up his first hit and RBI of the season in the 8th inning.
The rubber game of this opening series will be an afternoon game, so there’s a good chance we’ll see George Kottaras make his Brewers debut tomorrow, giving Gregg Zaun a day off behind the plate.
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