Overbay Traded to Toronto!
Winning Success
12 Year Losing Streak Ended
Nate Roth
Most of the time in baseball, destiny doesn't work out. Goals are made in spring training for the team, fan expectations are always high no matter the dregs of the current team, and the sports writers look into their crystal ball and attempt to predict how said team is going to work out. For the Milwaukee Brewers, most all these amateur fortune tellers believed a .500 record was in the cards, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive losing seasons.
Now that futility is history.
The Brewers stormed back from a five run deficit Friday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates to open the final series of the season and win 6-5, their 81st of the season, thus guaranteeing a non-losing season for the first time since 1992. Justin Lehr (1-1) pitched two innings for the win, Ryan Vogelsong (2-2) took the loss, and Derrick Turnbow pitched a flawless ninth for his team record tying 39th save.
Geoff Jenkins hit his 25th home run of the season, a two run shot just over the wall in right field, and Damian Miller hit his 9th later in the inning to put the Brewers ahead for good. It was his sacrifice fly in the sixth inning that got things started for the Crew who were thoroughly dominated by Pirates starter Oliver Perez all night.
Hard luck Brewers starter Doug Davis surrendered three runs early, none earned thanks to an error by third baseman Jeff Cirillo. Humberto Cola, who had two doubles among his three hits this evening, laced a double to left to drive in the final two runs of the inning.
Davis gave up lone runs in the fourth and fifth innings to put the Brewers down by five. He was lifted for a pinch hitter during the top of the sixth when the Brewers began their rally.
The sixth inning was not good for Perez as he magically lost his control Carlos Lee singled, then three straight walks plated him for the Brewers first run. Rick White relieved Perez and got Miller out on a sac fly, scoring Jenkins. The long flies of the seventh inning put the Brewers up for good, but they had to hang on for dear life.
In what could have been a death knell, Dana Eveland and Kane Davis managed to load the basis for Brewers nemesis Craig Wilson with two outs. Manager Ned Yost summoned Julio Santana, who filled the count and struck him out looking on a nasty slider down the middle of the plate.
Turnbow finished the 9th inning flawlessly and in the process tying Dan Kolb's team record of 39 saves. Turnbow has saved seven of the last eight Brewers wins, and the only one he didn't save, he was credited with the victory.
The Brewers now turn to the final two games with an eye on finishing above .500 for the season.