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Brewers Gameday with the Jockey Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m. and Brewers Extra Innings after the game on Newsradio 620 WTMJ with coverage on Live at 10 on TODAY'S TMJ4 HD

Brewers Blogs:
• O'Blog: It's Not Personal, J.J.  It's Business
• The Llama Laments: Will Milwaukee's New Love Affair With The Brewers Last?

Bottom 9th

4:03 p.m.
Hoffman vs. Pujols
A dream matchup - best reliever (stat-wise in terms of saves) in history vs. the best hitter in baseball.  A dream matchup.

0-2...then..."HE STRUCK HIM OUT AND THIS ONE IS OVER!"

4:00 p.m.  2 Out
Hoffman vs. Greene
A battle of former teammates in San Diego.  I feel the Gaslamp District overload right now.

Note: my friend and colleague Jodi Becker wants to remind everyone she is a Germantown native, which is true.  But I have to give her crap.

"HE STRUCK HIM OUT SWINGING!"

3:59 p.m.  1 Out, Runner on 1st
Hoffman vs. Lugo
Bunt base hit past 3rd.  Unless there's a twin killing, it's Hoffman vs. Pujols with the game on the line.

3:57 p.m.  1 Out
Hoffman vs. Glaus
A battle of SoCal transplants, as I sit here near SoCal transplant Jodi Becker.  I feel the avocado overload right now.

SWINGANDAMISS!  On three pitches, no less.

Top 9th

3:54 p.m.  3 Out
Miller vs. Cameron
Fly ball - infield fly rule...now it's up to the pitchers.

3:53 p.m.  2 Out
Miller vs. McGehee
Easy fly to center field.  Right in the little St. Louis arch pattern on the field.  Kudos, grounds crew.  Bad, McGehee.

3:49 p.m.    1 Out
Miller vs. Fielder
Easy bouncer to 2nd.  Get this thing a little less routine, please!

Bottom 8th

3:46 p.m.  3 Out
Vargas vs. Ankiel
A bomb to left, but not deep enough and Braun snags it - another disaster averted.

3:42 p.m.  2 Out, Runner on 1st
Vargas vs. Molina
0-2 turns into 3-2 before another walk.  Come on....end this bloody inning.  Wait...I'd be in trouble in Jolly Old England with that comment.

3:41 p.m.  2 Out
Vargas vs. Molina
Ueck calls him a double play possibility.  Rasmus is a pick-off possibility and Vargas NAILS HIM!

3:39 p.m.  1 Out, Runner on 1st
Vargas vs. Rasmus
Walking on four pitches won't get you most places.  Geez.

3:37 p.m.  1 Out
Vargas vs. Ludwick
High inside cheese!  :)

3:35 p.m. 
Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 3
Vargas vs. Holliday
"The Bodyguard," as he's called in STL, makes it 4-3.  Thank goodness the other inning ended before he came up.

Top 8th

3:32 p.m.  3 Out
Hawkesworth vs. Braun
A drive to right center but Ludwick extends to stop the inning.  If it gets by him, Braunie triples.

3:31 p.m.  2 Out
Hawkesworth vs. Catalanotto
Bouncer to the right and it's two routine outs.

3:30 p.m.  1 Out
Hawkesworth vs. Counsell
Ludwick snags a routine fly.  It just feels like the offense will coast here and the drama will come on defense/pitching.

Bottom 7th

3:19 p.m.  3 Out
Vargas vs. Pujols
Make that one more, Claudio.

This half inning has lasted as long as a typical Yankees-Red Sox half inning...and for the 2nd time, Pujols pulls out of the batters box twice right as he's about to pitch.

Will this end?  Finally?  Not until after one foul, and an outside ball three, being just a smidge away from the corner.  Macha's arguing balls and strikes with him.  Be careful, Ken.

After a Vargas bluff to 2nd, bouncer to McGehee - YES!!!  At last, we're out of it!

3:12 p.m.  2 Out, Bases Loaded
Stetter vs. Greene
Macha and Kaplinger, the trainer, check on him to see if he's OK, and he shows them he is...so we think.  Well, maybe not.  Schumaker replaces Ryan, and Stetter replaces Weathers.  Then Greene repalces Schumaker.  Isn't that two substitutions at bat for one pitching change?  That's weird.

Does it work for whom?  MILWAUKEE  STRIKE THREE CALLED!  One more, Mitch.  And it's Pujols.

3:10 p.m.  1 Out, Bases Loaded
Weathers vs. Lugo
Four straight pitches to load the bases?  Yeeeeeeeeeeeesh.

3:05 p.m.  1 Out, Runners on 2nd and 3rd 
Weathers vs. Glaus
Nice job, Parra...6 1/3rd with two runs given up.  and Weathers dishes up a perfect pitch for Glaus to pop a ground rule double.  Yeesh.  Shoulda kept in Parra...so far.

3:03 p.m.  1 Out, Runner on 1st
Parra vs. Ankiel
Swinging K and Ankiel makes up for that first bad at-bat.

3:02 p.m.  Runner on 1st
Parra vs. Molina
Parra stays in while Weathers works.  Ah, ball four and Molina takes the 90-foot stroll.  Keep gettin' ready, Weathers.

Top 7th

2:59 p.m.  3 Out
Hawksworth vs. Parra
Ah, three straight strikes.  He just wants to get to the mound again.

2:57 p.m.  2 Out
Hawksworth vs. Escobar
3-2 count, then a grounder to his position, and Ryan had it much easier than Escobar did in his last putout.

2:53 p.m.  1 Out
Hawksworth vs. Rivera
95mph cheese K's Rivera.

Bottom 6th

2:49 p.m.  3 Out
Parra vs. DeRosa
After a mound visit by Bosio, where they discuss the fact that St. Louis' favorite frozen custard, Ted Drewes, can never match Kopp's, Parra induces a bouncer to the hole where Escobar dives into left field and rocketed a throw!

2:48 p.m.  2 Out, Runner on 1st
Parra vs. Ludwick
Four straight walks means the tying run comes to the plate.

2:47 p.m.  2 Out
Parra vs. Holliday
Fielder unassisted.  Easy as Felix Pie.

2:46 p.m.  1 Out
Parra vs. Pujols
A fly to left and Braun uses his glove to shield the sun before he makes the catch.  The sun is high in the sky, higher than a kite can fly...OK, I'll stop the bad song lyrics.

Top 6th

2:42 p.m.  3 Out
Smoltz vs. Cameron
After going 3-2, Cammy swingsandmisses.  But at least no one is left on base, for once.

2:41 p.m.  2 Out
Milwaukee 4, St. Louis 2
Smoltz vs. McGehee
GET UP, GET OUTTA HERE GONE!  I'm getting complaints for yelling it in the newsroom.

2:38 p.m.  2 Out, Runner on 2nd
Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 2
Smoltz vs. Fielder
Can he jack one like he did in the home run derby in this very park?  Nope....a fielder's choice and out.  Tie game!

2:35 p.m.  1 Out, Runners on 1st and 3rd
Smoltz vs. Braun
Some movement in the Cardinals' pen...but after striking out swinging, I don't know how hard they have to work.

2:32 p.m.  Runners on 1st and 3rd
Smoltz vs. Catalanotto
C'mon, Can O' Tomatoes....rockets off of Smoltz...and some MAJOR speed on that shot off Smoltz, but he hangs in.  We think.

2:27 p.m.  Runner on 2nd
Smoltz vs. Counsell
A liner to left center and Whitefish Bay's own was sprinting to second as if he had to get first in line for the checkout at Sendik's.

Bottom 5th

2:25 p.m.  3 Out
Parra vs. Ryan
Bouncer to third and Parra is settling down again.  Real nice.  8 in a row retired.

2:23 p.m.  2 Out
Parra vs. Lugo
Ouch....Parra looks to have hurt his leg on the last pitch.  He was limping following the throw from Escobar.  A few warmup tosses and he goes on in the game.

NICE...swinging K on 3 pitches.

2:21 p.m  1 Out
Parra vs. Smoltz
Wonder if Smoltz could have just walked to the plate and Parra to the mound and just exchanged equipment.  They could, if Parra's helmet size isn't Kevin Mench's.

A one-hopper to Escobar and Smoltzy can't get lucky at the plate.

Top 5th

2:18 p.m.  3 Out
Smoltz vs. Parra
Molina takes the fly ball that hit the St. Louis arch, then dropped into the catcher's hands. 

2:17 p.m.  2 Out
Smoltz vs. Escobar
Ankiel sprints in 100 feet before taking the short fly to center.

2:16 p.m.  1 Out
Smoltz vs. Rivera
First ptch and Holliday quickly retires Rivera on a fly.  Fast-moving game, huh?

Bottom 4th

2:14 p.m.  3 Out
Parra vs. Ankiel
1-2-3!

2:13 p.m.  2 Out
Parra vs. Molina
First pitch out to McGehee at 3rd.

2:11 p.m.  1 Out
Parra vs. DeRosa
Man, this is so much red in the park that I would think I'd be at Camp Randall.  Ah, glad that starts Saturday.

STRIKE THREE CALLED!   Could he regain the groove? 

Top 4th

2:09 p.m.  3 Out
Smoltz vs. Cameron
A 385' fly ball goes to Ankiel at a part of the park that's 400' to the wall.

2:07 p.m.  2 Out, Runner on 1st
St. Louis 2, Milwaukee 1
Smoltz vs. McGehee
Deep fly to left and it's deep enough for an RBI.

2:02 p.m.  1 Out, Runners on 1st and 3rd
Smoltz vs. Fielder
Line drive base hit, and because Braunie was running on 3-2, he's at 3rd.  Nice.

2:01 p.m.  1 Out, Runner on 1st
Smoltz vs. Braun
Liner left side past Ryan....Braunie's hot today - 2-2.

2:01 p.m.  1 Out
Smoltz vs. Catalanotto
A bouncer that's slower than me running the 100 yard dash goes to Ryan and he nails Catalanotto by a step.

Bottom 3rd

1:57 p.m.  3 Out 
Parra vs. Ludwick
5-4-3 DP!  Thank goodness....do we have a chance?

1:55 p.m.  1 Out, Runner on 1st
Parra vs. Holliday
He's 5-9 with a killer HR Tuesday night in the series.  It's now 6-10.  Brewers pitching on a Holliday....oooh, bad pun.  I don't believe in violence, so just give me 50 virtual lashes.

1:53 p.m.  1 Out
Parra vs. Pujols
Thankfully, no one on base right now.as McGehee makes a diving stop on the line, then went from his stomach, got up and delivered a rifle.

Top 3rd

1:51 p.m.  3 Out 
Smoltz vs. Counsell
They've faced off during their long NL careers...wonder how many times?  Call the folks at Elias help?  Well, it's worse after that fly to center.

1:49 p.m.  2 Out
Smoltz vs. Parra
A K swinging...and he didn't have a shot at all.

1:48 p.m.  1 Out
Smoltz vs. Escobar
A lazy fly that needs to work harder on dropping to the ground before going into a Cardinal glove.

Bottom 2nd

1:46 p.m.  3 OUt
Parra vs. Ryan
Right now, it seems like Nolan Ryan could be pitching to the Cards and they'd sitll be hot.  Wait...Parra K'd Ryan.  Brendan, not Nolan.

1:43 p.m.  2 Out, Runner on 2nd
Parra vs. Lugo
Going 3-2, Lugo bullets the blue sky of St. Louis to create a double.  Wonder how many U2 song titles i can reference in this blog today?  Got ideas?  Tweet them @620wtmj

1:43 p.m.  2 Out
Parra vs. Smoltz
A screaming fly goes to Catalanotto at the warning track.  Could have been MUCH worse.

1:41 p.m.  2 Out
Parra vs. Ankiel
Fly to center and Cammy snags it easily.

Twitter: acwilber
"Here we go again. Wonder how this pitching staff compares to those of the early 2000s that got rocked day after day..."

Top 2nd

1:39 p.m.  3 Out
Smoltz vs. Rivera
Swingandamiss K for Rivera.  Ugly.

1:38 p.m.  2 Out
Smoltz vs. Cameron
Easy fly to right to Ludwick.  This Cards team may be becoming the NL favorite, or at least co-favorite.

1:35 p.m.  1 Out
Smoltz vs. McGehee
He's 4-8 for the series...make it 4-9 after taking strike three on a curve.

Bottom 1st

1:32 p.m.  3 Out
Parra vs. Molina
Finally the inning ends with Cammy sliding to right center.

1:31 p.m.  2 Out, Runners on 1st and 2nd
Parra vs. Ankiel
Swingandamiss on a splitter gets him.

1:30 p.m.  1 Out, Runners on 1st and 2nd
St. Louis 2, Milwaukee 0
Parra vs. Ludwick
Single to left.  Ueck: "I tell you what, they are runnin' hot, folks."

1:29 p.m.  1 Out, Runners on 1st and 2nd
Parra vs. Holliday
Smash up the middle and Parra doesn't have it early.

1:27 p.m.  1 Out, Runner on 1st
Parra vs. Pujols
After going 0-2, Pujols draws a full count, then walks the world's greatest hitter today.

1:26 p.m.  1 Out
Parra vs. Ryan
Routine fly to Cameron.  Wonder how many he'll catch of those next year in Milwaukee?

1:23 p.m. 
St. Louis 1, Milwaukee 0
Parra vs. Lugo
On a full count, it's "trouble...and it is gone."

Top 1st

1:20 p.m.  3 Out
Smoltz vs. Fielder
Smoltz smokes Fielder with a K.  Hmmm....smoked veggies.  A little healthier than smoked sausage.

1:19 p.m.  2 Out, Runner on 1st
Smoltz vs. Braun
Braunie doesn't stop the possibility of 27 putouts by the shortstop, but he gets on base.  I like that way of keeping Ryan's streak alive instead of consecutive putouts.

1:18 p.m.  2 Out
Smoltz vs. Catalanotto
Frankie Can-O'-Tomatoes (again, meant in complete love) bounces to Ryan, and he's on a way to 27 putouts in the game.  Wonder if that's ever happened.

1:15 p.m.  1 Out
Smoltz vs. Counsell
The first at-at of the game with temps at 80 degrees, picturesque in St. Louis except for all that red.

A pop-up goes to Ryan at short.

Pregame

12:35 p.m. 
On a day following a contest where the Brewers had runners in scoring position every inning but one, the Brewers may have a challenge getting runners on base against resurgent John Smoltz.  Manny Parra counters on the mound for Milwaukee.