Rewind: Brewers vs. Giants, Game #2
Nothing much has gone right for San Francisco so far in the second half of the season, but on Tuesday night, Jamey Wright and Moises Alou finally gave their teammates something to smile about.
Wright held the Brewers’ mighty offense in check for six innings and Alou smacked a two-run double that proved to be the decisive blow is the Giants 4-3 victory.
The Brewers wasted little time jumping on the Giants' starter in the top of the first. Rickie Weeks led off with a base hit to left and then stole second on a strikeout by Jeff Cirillo. The stolen base was not without controversy, however, as replays clearly showed that Ray Durham tagged Weeks before his hand touched the bag. The blown call would loom large because it allowed the inning to continue and two batters later, Prince Fielder knocked in Weeks with an RBI single to left, giving Milwaukee an early 1-0 lead.
The Giants’ bats came to life in the bottom of the second against Brewers’ starter Tomo Okha. Durham got things going with a walk and then went to third on a single to center by Pedro Feliz. Mark Sweeney would then hit into a fielder’s choice, driving in Durham to tie the score 1-1.
San Francisco jumped ahead in the bottom of the third. With one out, Omar Vizquel lined a base hit to center. After Steve Finley fouled out, Barry Bonds stepped to the plate and scorched a double to right that glanced off of Geoff Jenkins glove allowing Vizquel to put the Giants in front 2-1.
Milwaukee would come storming back in the top of the fourth. Fielder, who has been a thorn in the Giants’ side all series long, started the rally with a single to center. Following a Gabe Gross double, Bill Hall cleared the bases with an RBI single as the Brewers went back ahead 3-2.
That would be all the scoring that the Brewers would manage against Wright (6-8). The right-hander, who hadn’t won since May 22, threw six effective innings allowing two runs while fanning five.
Facing reliever Geremi Gonzalez (2-1) in the sixth, the Giants’ offense awoke once again. After Gonzalez retired Durham to lead off the inning, he surrendered back-to-back singles to Feliz and Sweeney which brought up pinch-hitter Moises Alou. Alou promptly drilled a ball over the head of center fielder Brady Clark, driving in both Feliz and Sweeney to give San Francisco a 4-3 advantage.
Wright would turn the lead over to the Giants’ beleaguered bullpen, but unlike the last few games, they would come through on this night.
Jeremy Accardo pitched a scoreless seventh inning and Steve Kline took over and kept the Brewers at bay in the eighth before handing the ball over to closer Armando Benitez in the ninth. Benitez, who has come under fire as of late, retired the side in order to pick up his 12th save of the season.
With the win, the Giants (47-47) snapped a three game losing streak and remained 3.5 games behind the first place Padres. They will look to win the series today as Matt Morris (8-7, 4.23 ERA) goes up against Doug Davis (5-6, 4.77 ERA)
SFDugout's Player of the Game: Jamey Wright pitched six solid innings to pick up his first win since May 22. Moises Alou also gets an honorable mention because of his pinch-hit two-run double proved to be the difference.