Brewers' late threat not enough after Phillies victory
Milwaukee scores one run in ninth inning, gives up all three unearned runs in fourth
Tom Haudricourt
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Sports
"As the game went on, the more tired I got, my changeup just got better. That's something I've learned from (teammate) Jamie Moyer."
Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo, making only his second start since returning from a major knee injury suffered May 1, was unusually erratic with his command. Still, the three runs the Phillies scored off him in the third inning wouldn't have happened if not for a defensive mistake.
After Carlos Ruiz led off with a single, Hamels dropped a bunt to the left side. Third baseman Bill Hall was charging hard and had an out at second but bobbled the wet ball - it had begun to rain - and instead threw to first base.
Second baseman Rickie Weeks, covering the bag, dropped the knee-high throw when it hit the heel of his glove. Gallardo retired the next two hitters, but Chase Utley hit a drive to deep center that eluded a diving, over-the-shoulder attempt by Cameron in the swirling winds for a two-run double.
"If it isn't caught, nobody can catch it except Mike Cameron," said Brewers interim manager Dale Sveum. "I never question anything he does in center field. He's as good a centerfielder as I've ever been around in my 27 years in the game.
"If it was supposed to be caught, he would have caught it. He came within inches of it and at that time the wind was probably blowing 30 miles an hour."
With first base open, the Brewers intentionally walked Phillies slugger Ryan Howard. But Gallardo lost his release point, walking Pat Burrell to load the bases and issuing another pass to Shane Victorino to force in a run.
"I got away from my game plan for a couple of hitters," said Gallardo, who allowed only three hits but walked five during his four-inning stint. "You just can't do that, especially in situations like this."
"I didn't feel any pressure. I felt fine. I was going to go as long as they let me go. The pitch (to Utley) was a fastball. I was trying to go higher with it. It was the only mistake I made in the game, and he put a pretty good swing on it."
Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo, making only his second start since returning from a major knee injury suffered May 1, was unusually erratic with his command. Still, the three runs the Phillies scored off him in the third inning wouldn't have happened if not for a defensive mistake.
After Carlos Ruiz led off with a single, Hamels dropped a bunt to the left side. Third baseman Bill Hall was charging hard and had an out at second but bobbled the wet ball - it had begun to rain - and instead threw to first base.
Second baseman Rickie Weeks, covering the bag, dropped the knee-high throw when it hit the heel of his glove. Gallardo retired the next two hitters, but Chase Utley hit a drive to deep center that eluded a diving, over-the-shoulder attempt by Cameron in the swirling winds for a two-run double.
"If it isn't caught, nobody can catch it except Mike Cameron," said Brewers interim manager Dale Sveum. "I never question anything he does in center field. He's as good a centerfielder as I've ever been around in my 27 years in the game.
"If it was supposed to be caught, he would have caught it. He came within inches of it and at that time the wind was probably blowing 30 miles an hour."
With first base open, the Brewers intentionally walked Phillies slugger Ryan Howard. But Gallardo lost his release point, walking Pat Burrell to load the bases and issuing another pass to Shane Victorino to force in a run.
"I got away from my game plan for a couple of hitters," said Gallardo, who allowed only three hits but walked five during his four-inning stint. "You just can't do that, especially in situations like this."
"I didn't feel any pressure. I felt fine. I was going to go as long as they let me go. The pitch (to Utley) was a fastball. I was trying to go higher with it. It was the only mistake I made in the game, and he put a pretty good swing on it."
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