Opening Week - Brewers @ Reds

[Hardy Blonde]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Brewers
(0-1) 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 6 9 0
Reds
(1-0) 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 4 7 12 1
W: Ondrusek (1-0, 0.00) ; L: Axford (0-1, 54.00)
HR: MIL: Gomez, C (1), Weeks (1), Braun (1). CIN: Stubbs (1), Votto (1), Hernandez, Ra (1).

IN OTHER DAILY NEWS:

Back-to-back jacks by Weeks, Gomez historic
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | 03/31/11 7:43 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- Sure, the Brewers were bummed about Zack Greinke's place on the Opening Day disabled list. But they showed Thursday, in historic fashion, how they'll try to get by in his absence.

Rickie Weeks and Carlos Gomez delivered back-to-back home runs in the Brewers' first two at-bats of 2011, sparking a three-run rally in Milwaukee's regular-season opening inning for an early lead against the defending National League Central champion Reds.

Weeks hit Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez's eighth pitch of the season to the left-field seats for his 22nd career leadoff home run and the first by a Brewers hitter leading off a season. Gomez turned on a sinker two pitches later for a booming homer to the second deck, making the 2011 Brewers the first team since the 1969 Reds to get back-to-back home runs to begin a season. Weeks and Gomez joined Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan, who took the Dodgers' Don Drysdale deep to begin the '69 season.

"It was a great start, obviously," Weeks said. "To go 1-2 like that, get a couple of runs on the board -- that's good for any ballclub."

He didn't necessarily step to the plate intending to ambush a Volquez fastball.

"It's Opening Day, so honestly, everybody is kind of blacked-out out there," Weeks said. "It's just one of those things where you try to see the ball and hit it. I thought he did a good job of mixing his pitches after the fact."

The Brewers were not finished in their big first inning. Ryan Braun walked, Prince Fielder singled and Volquez finally recorded an out on Casey McGehee's sacrifice fly.


Reds 7, Brewers 6
WP: Ondrusek LP: Axford

"It's great," Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo said. "I think it shows the kind of hitters we have here, all the talent we have in this room. It's a good feeling. The boys were swinging the bat today, from Day 1."

Braun also homered, and Weeks and McGehee finished with two RBIs apiece, but the Brewers took a disheartening loss in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez delivered a walk-off three-run home run.

Gomez wasn't deterred.

"If we keep playing like we played today, we'll be in October," he said. "Believe it."


-- Even though they blew it badly, we do have what it takes to be a winning team...Lets hope Gomez' statement remains true!

[love_that_reefer]

It was definitely a slugfest!!

[Hardy Blonde]

Good game for opening day

[brewcrewrock]

Well looks like Brewers baseball is definatley back

[Hardy Blonde]

You know it kid.

[Hardy Blonde]

I must say Marcum did not impress me at all...Wtf was all the hype with this guy????

[brewcrewrock]

I must say Marcum did not impress me at all...Wtf was all the hype with this guy????

Another Jeff Suppan? I'd give it some more time, lots of pitchers struggle on their first outing of the season

[Trendy Bastard]

And not to mention their debut on a new team.

He had a career high in walks and is facing hitters he knows much less about.

[Hardy Blonde]

Saturday:

Final
MLB.TVGAMEDAYLISTENBoxWrap
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Brewers
(0-2) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 7 1
Reds
(2-0) 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 5 0
W: Wood, T (1-0, 1.29) ; L: Marcum (0-1, 5.79) ; SV: Cordero (1)
HR: MIL: Almonte (1). CIN: Rolen (1)


Today:

Brewers
(0-3) 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 7 1
Reds
(3-0) 0 2 0 4 1 4 1 0 X 12 19 0
W: Arroyo (1-0, 3.86) ; L: Wolf (0-1, 13.50)
HR: MIL: Weeks (2), Braun (2). CIN: Gomes (1), Phillips, B (1), Hanigan 2 (2)


Well this was a wonderful way to start the season.......Thankfully Braun and Weeks are hot right out of the gate. I guess we need our "Hart" back to win! Hurry back Corey!

[Hardy Blonde]

IN OTHER NEWS:

CINCINNATI -- The Brewers will mark their 10th anniversary at Miller Park with Monday's home opener against the Braves.

The team's first regular-season game at their retractable-domed home was April 6, 2001, a 5-4 win over the Reds. With Wisconsin's Bruce Froemming calling balls and strikes, shortstop Jose Hernandez hit a three-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Jeromy Burnitz and Richie Sexson homered. Sexson's solo shot in the bottom of the eighth snapped a 4-4 tie and gave the Brewers their first win after an 0-4 start on the road.

The Brewers are 408-402 in their 10 seasons at Miller Park, and Prince Fielder holds most of the ballpark's records, including home runs (99), RBIs (276) and runs (240). Geoff Jenkins has the most Miller Park hits, with 419, and Ben Sheets leads the pitchers with 44 wins.



Fans should plan ahead for 'Super' homecoming
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | 04/03/11 1:45 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- The Brewers have released every detail for Monday's home opener but one: Who's throwing the ceremonial first pitch? It appears the secret is out.

Multiple members of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers have tweeted references to the Brewers' 2011 Miller Park debut against the Braves, including safety Nick Collins.

"Check me out on Opening Day," Collins wrote, "throwing the first pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers!!!"

Tight end Tom Crabtree revealed that about 20 Packers players would be taking part, including popular fullback John Kuhn and offensive lineman (and Miller Park batting practice veteran) Bryan Bulaga. Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers has a scheduling conflict and will not be in attendance, according to his buddy Ryan Braun, the Brewers' left fielder.

Rodgers did re-tweet this from tight end Jermichael Finley: "Opening Day of MLB is around the corner... Let's Go Brewers."

Brewers officials have said only that, "Fans will want to ensure they are in their seats for a very special ceremonial first pitch. No additional details will be announced in advance."

The club did confirm that, per tradition, Joseph Attanasio, the father of Brewers principal Mark Attanasio, will sing the national anthem.

Brewers officials are asking their fans to plan ahead for what is always a busy day at the ballpark:

• Consistent with recent years, the Brewers have arranged for overflow parking at Wisconsin State Fair Park for the home opener. In the likely event that Miller Park lots reach capacity, fans may take the 84th St. exit from I-94 and enter through gate No. 77. From there, they will see signage and staff directing them to the parking area. A $10 fee will cover vehicle parking and shuttle services are free.

Shuttle services are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. CT and will run for approximately 90 minutes after the game.

• The repaving of a stretch of Interstate 94 through Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties will stretch into the early summer and could cause delays, especially for outbound traffic. For more information tailored specifically to arriving and departing Miller Park, visit the Miller Park tab at brewers.com.