Game 6: This Time, Brewers Save Trevor

W: Trevor Hoffman (1-1)
L: Kyle McClellan (0-1)

STL HR: Albert Pujols 2 (4), Matt Holliday (3)
MIL HR: Rickie Weeks (2), Corey Hart (1), Ryan Braun (1), Casey McGehee (2)

For the second time in three days, Trevor Hoffman was one out away from nailing down a save and a Brewers win over the Cardinals.  For the second time in three days, Hoffman couldn’t get the job done.  This time, it was a two-run homer from Albert Pujols, followed up by a game-tying solo shot by Matt Holliday.  Just like that, what was a 7-2 game was a tie game heading into the bottom of the 9th.

Thankfully, Casey McGehee saved us from another day of playing “Is Hoffman Cooked?”  McGehee drilled a solo homer off Kyle McClellan, giving the Brewers an 8-7 win to avoid an early-season sweep.  He seemed to know it was gone once he made contact, so I’m surprised the St. Louis media hasn’t whined about how unclassy he was for watching his game-winning blast go out.

The Brewers built up that intitial 7-2 lead on the strength of three home runs off Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter.  Rickie Weeks got the Brewers started in a hurry with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first.  He would go 2-for-3 on the night with 2 walks and 3 runs scored.  Corey Hart, getting the start in right while Jim Edmonds subbed for Carlos Gomez in center, also went 2-for-3 with a home run.  Despite the small amount of playing time, Hart has looked very good when he’s been on the field so far this year.

After not letting Pujols hurt them all weekend, the Brewers struggled to get him out on the national stage Sunday night.  Pujols went 3-for-5 with two home runs and 4 RBI. 

Randy Wolf turned in another solid start, going 6.2 innings and only allowing two earned runs.  After two starts, his ERA is at 4.05, which is pretty much exactly where you’d expect him to be.

The Brewers have a quick turnaround, starting a 9-game road trip this afternoon in Chicago against the Cubs.  Doug Davis will take the ball against Ryan Dempster in the Cubs’ home opener.  If that thought scares you, perhaps you can take comfort in this — he’s traditionally been a Cub Killer.  Something about the soft-tossing lefties has always given the Cubs problems.