Overbay Traded to Toronto!
Marlins Flounder, Crew Wins
Rookies Come Together to Sink Fish
Dennis Jenders
Four errors by the Marlins left the team floundering as the Brewers capitalized on their struggles for their seventh win in 10 games, beating Florida 6-4 Wednesday night.
The rookies came together to carry the offensive load as J.J. Hardy had three of the team's eight hits. Rickie Weeks contributed the winning run in the sixth to break the 4-4 tie. Weeks drove the ball to deep right field to score Damian Miller and Hardy would also score as Jeff Conine let the ball slide past him.
Corey Hart helped tie the game in the fifth when he led the inning off with a walk. With his promising speed he promptly stole second to put him in scoring position. Lyle Overbay would move him along to third on a grounder before Carlos Lee would follow with another grounder to second to score Hart.
After defeating Josh Beckett the previous night the Brewers were facing another tough arm in A.J. Burnett. After Carlos Delgado gave Burnett a 1-0 lead in the first it was Burnett who collapsed defensively to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.
Luis Castillo committed an error to allow Overbay to reach first safely and Burnett mishandled a chopper from Carlos Lee allowing Weeks and Overbay to score easily as he threw wide of first base - leaving everyone safe. Geoff Jenkins followed with a strikeout but Bill Hall also reached first safely as Alex Gonzalez dropped the ball allowing Lee to score before finally ending the inning with Miller grounding out.
The Brewers are demonstrating their tenacity against a tough opponent who leads them in the Wild Card race. The Crew still finds themselves 5.5 games back of Philly with Houston, Florida, the Mets, and Washington still ahead of them in the standings.
But Miller Park has been kind to the Brewers this year and after winning the first two of their 12 game home stand the team finds themselves a game out of .500 and just a bit closer to respectability around the league. Marlins manager Jack McKeon was impressed with the Brewers' rookies saying, "I like their kids," he said. "They've got a lot of fire in them."
Lefty Doug Davis will take the mound Thursday in search of his 10th win. It will be his 12th attempt to reach the plateau as the Brewers take on Ismael Valdez (1-1, 4.50).