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The Llama Laments: Why Boo?

Postgame Audio
• Ned Yost
• Dave Bush
• Ryan Braun
• Corey Hart

Sometimes it just takes a little bit longer for things to happen than what is desired.  It took nearly six weeks and a trip to the minors but Dave Bush finally got his first win of the season.  Ryan Braun took some time to adjust to the way he was being pitched but he has finally heated up at the plate.  The Brewers got back to .500 with an 8-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the finale of a four-game set.  The Brewers took three of four and now stand three back of the Cards in the standings.

"Lately, we have not been getting that big hit," said Brewers manager Ned Yost.  "We get that one run and not find a way to get that big hit.  We got it tonight and scored some runs because of it."

Click here to hear more about what Yost said about the win.

Bush (1-4) looked nothing like the pitcher that has struggled mightily this season.  Bush pitched six strong innings, allowed four hits and one Rick Ankiel home run in the first inning. 

"He got some run support and that allowed him to take a bit of a breath and know that he could make a mistake," Yost stated. 

Yost took a little bit of the blame for Bush's struggles to start the year.

"His strength is really pitching inside and I think we've been trying to get him to command the outside part of the plate a bit more," Yost explained.  "He threw more inside I think today which set up some other stuff."

"I like staying on the attack on both sides of the plate," Bush added.  "There were times when I felt like we were encouraged not to.  The last couple of days we've done that [trying to work more inside while preparing for this start] and had good results so we'll try to keep it going."

Click here to hear more about what Bush had to say about his performance.

Ryan Braun's bat is now at scorching level. 

"Yesterday showed it, today confirmed it," as Yost put it.

Braun finished the series 9-15 with four homers and four RBI. His average is now up to .288.  He once again put on a show with a solo shot that reached the left field bleachers in the first inning and another solo longball that landed in the Brewers bullpen in the fifth inning.  He finished 2-3 with three runs.

"It's great to be seeing the ball well," Braun stated.  "I feel like my approach has got back to where I need it to be."

Click here to hear more about what Braun said about the victory.

The Brewers bats could not find home plate even if it had the help of a compass a week ago.  The Crew had no problem touching home in this contest as the Brewers unloaded on starter Adam Wainwright for eight runs and nine hits.   Wainwright had owned the Brewers as he came into the contest with a career 2.02 ERA against the Crew.  He did not have his good stuff in this game.  The Brewers even batted around the order in the third inning.  It was the first time that happened since the home opener.  Wainwright (3-2) took the loss for his forgettable night.

The Brewers started off the third inning with Bush helping his cause as he doubled to left.  Jason Kendall then advanced Bush to third with a single.  Mike Cameron bashed out a ground-rule double to drive in Bush.  Braun walked to load the bases.  Yost felt that walk was the reason for the big inning.

"That's a situation where he gets so anxious," Yost explained.  "It opened up a big inning for us because it allowed the rest of the guys to do what they do.  When I saw that at bat right there, I knew Brauny was back to being the Ryan Braun that we know."

Corey Hart drove in Kendall and Cameron with a two-out single to left.  Bill Hall looked like he was going to end the inning with a pop fly out.  Instead, Adam Kennedy bobbled the ball, had it drop out of his glove, briefly land in it, only to slip out again which allowed Braun and Hart to plate a run.  J.J. Hardy ended the fun with fly out to center.

Click here to hear what Hart said about the win.

Eric Gagne has been the story of the Brewers the last few days with his temporary removal from the closer role.  He got the call to pitch the seventh and the eighth.  You would not have thought Gagne had a solid performance with all the boos he got for every pitch that was called a ball.  Gagne gave up a run in the eighth but other than that he had a good night's work as he allowed two hits, walked two, and struck out one.

"Some of the adjustments that we wanted to see him make, he made," Yost described.  "A lot of times when a guy has been struggling, you get him through a real clean first inning like that and let him get away with a good feeling.  He wanted to work and he wanted to go out a second inning and I wanted him to go two too."

Mitch Stetter did make things somewhat uneasy in the ninth as he loaded the bases.  The Cardinals added a run when Stetter walked in Troy Glaus.  Guillermo Mota came in with the bases loaded and struck out Ankiel to end the game and picked up his first save of the season.

The Brewers are now 19-19 while the Cardinals are 23-17.  The Brewers will now host the Dodgers for a three-game set to end the seven-game home stand.  Carlos Villanueva (1-4, 6.46 ERA) starts for the Crew while righty Brad Penny (5-3, 4.79) toes the mound for the Dodgers.