Boxscore

Remember the Brewers? You know, the team that I thought would take the division. Well, they’re not doing so hot lately. Or at least they weren’t after dropping below .500 in a terrible losing stretch. But great news for all of you who place your self-worth on preseason predictions (and picked the Brewers): They’re good again!

Carlos Villanueva gave Milwaukee a good start and lead them to their third win in a row, which also gives them a winning record again. And wonder of all wonders, after being removed from the closer’s position less than a week ago, Eric Gagne was back at it, picking up his 10th save, this time in a humdrum fashion. We’ll see how long that lasts.

Manny Parra tries to keep the winning ways rolling tonight when he faces Derek Lowe at 8:05pm EDT.

After much delay and many false starts, we finally recorded our 100th Red Hot Broadcast this evening from the left field seats in Victory Field in Indianapolis. Due to the Mother’s Day game being rained out yesterday, the Indians scheduled a double-header, with each game intended to be only seven innings long. Of course, the game was tied at the end of seven, sending the game into the regular number of innings and beyond. At the end of ten (a game and a half), the Indians lost 2-1.

This week on the podcast, we talk about batting out of order, the order of the NLC teams, and our wacky fun weekend of partying.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Boxscore

The Brewers (16-18) look like a very bad team right now. Following their sweep of the Astros, they were swept by the Marlins (20-14) and have seen themselves drop in the standings, currently resting in 4th place.

Carlos Villanueva (1-4) was the loser for Milwaukee. He kept his team in it for half the game, until allowing 5 runs off of a couple homers, one from former Red Jorge Cantu. Logan Kensing (1-0) got the win.

The Brewers return home to host the Cardinals when Todd Wellemeyer starts against Manny Parra at 8:05pm EDT. Can Milwaukee end its losing streak at 6? Magic 8-ball says, “Outlook not so good.”

Boxscore

The Brewers (16-17) lost to the Marlins (19-14) again. It makes 5 in a row for a floundering Milwaukee team and gives them a losing record.

The culprits were Dave Bush (0-4), who allowed as many runs he pitched, and the offense. Rickie Weeks provided every bit of the scoring with a two-run home run in the 6th. The offense for the team has been nonexistent lately. It’s not a matter of getting the big hit, either. The team left only 6 on base over the game’s course. Nothing is clicking right now.

The Brewers try to right things tonight at 7:10pm EDT when they send Carlos Villanueva against Mark Hendrickson.

Boxscore

Remember in the middle of April when Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman erupted at Cubs fans who threw more than a dozen balls onto the field for no reason? Lots of Cubs fans took his comments very personally, getting quite offended and protesting Marty’s characterization. Well, all except a few who didn’t get the memo about the need to clean up their image during yesterday’s game.

In the bottom of the sixth on a ball hit to Ryan Braun in left field, Cubs’ “fans” threw food and drinks in Braun’s direction while he was making a throw into the infield. Typical Wrigley Field drunks, I guess. You are a classless bunch with no respect for the game or players.

It only got better from there, as the Cubs (17-11) sent out “closer” Kerry Wood (2-1) to finish the game and get Carlos Zambrano the win. Unfortunately, Wood blew his third save in seven chances and let the Cubs lose their second series to the Brewers (16-12).

With Wood doing his best Eric Gagne (S 9) impression, you would think Gagne would try to one-up him, but no. Gagne finished the 9th without problems, getting the save and giving the win to Brian Shouse (2-0).

This blown win for the Cubs happened on Alfonso Soriano’s first game back from the DL. How’d he do? Like he has so far this season whenever he’s played: terrible. Soriano went 0-4, lowering his average to .164. Your Chicago Cubs leadoff hitter, ladies and gentlemen! (I realize it’s a small sample size, but Soriano’s timing is obviously off, so why not put him in a less important lineup slot while he works things out?)

The Cubs now leave home to travel to the Cardinals and the latest fight for first place, sending Rich Hill against Adam Wainwright at 8:15pm EDT. Will the Cubs figure out new and entertaining ways to choke? Or just use the same old ways?

The Brewers go to Houston where Carlos Villanueva will face Roy Oswalt at 8:05pm EDT.