Los Angeles Dodgers 3 Milwaukee Brewers 4 (April 3, 2007)
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0 commentsIn a much closer game than yesterday's Opening Day, the Milwaukee Brewers topped the Los Angeles Dodgers by the score of 4-3.
Chris Capuano started his first game of 2007, going five innings and giving up three earned runs in what ultimately became a no-decision. For the Dodgers, lefty Randy Wolf took the mound and pitched six innings, giving up all four earned runs and taking the loss.
The scoring started in the bottom of the second, when Brewers catcher Johnny Estrada scored on a Corey Hart single for a 1-0 lead. But the top of the third proved troublesome for Capuano. After a leadoff walk to Juan Pierre, Capuano gave up a double to Russell Martin, scoring Pierre from first, and then another double to Nomar Garciaparra, scoring Martin. Heading into the bottom of the third, is was 2-1 L.A. In their half of the third, the Brewers tied it up at 2 on a Prince Fielder solo home run. The fourth inning came and went, and in the top of the fifth, Martin struck again, sending a solo home run into the bleachers to give L.A. a 3-2 lead.
The Brewers bullpen took over in the sixth inning, starting with newcomer Greg Aquino, acquired along with Estrada and Claudio Vargas in an offseason trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Aquino recorded two quick outs, and then loaded the bases, prompting a change to left-handed submariner Brian Shouse, who threw two pitches and got the Brewers out of the jam with a Juan Pierre groundout.
The final scoring came in the Brewers' half of the sixth. After Estrada's double, outfielder Kevin Mench sent a line drive home run into the Brewers bullpen to give Milwaukee a 4-3 lead. Including his first two at-bats of the game, Mench had gone 120 at-bats without a home run, a career high.
After that, it was all about the Brewers relief pitchers. Matt Wise pitched the seventh, giving up only a walk and getting his first hold of the year. Derrick Turnbow pitched a 1-2-3 eighth with one strikeout, a good sign for Brewer fans hoping to see him turn it around after a dismal second half of the 2006 season. And Francisco Cordero picked up his first save of 2007, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts to finish the game.
The Brewers improved to 2-0, with Brian Shouse (1-0, 0.00) getting the win. Capuano (0-0, 5.40) was removed after the fifth, having thrown 95 pitches.
The Dodgers fall to 0-2, with Randy Wolf (0-1, 6.00) getting the loss.
Up next: On Wednesday night the Brewers will send newcomer Jeff Suppan to the mound against the Dodgers and Jason Schmidt.
Date
April 3, 2007
