Thu Sep 25 23:45:12 2008

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Braun's slam in 10th keeps Brewers tied for wild card lead

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Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ryan Braun hit a game-ending grand slam in the 10th inning to give Milwaukee a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, and keep the Brewers tied atop the NL wild card standings going into the final weekend of the season.

With the win, the Brewers stayed even with the Mets for the wild card spot, after New York won in its final at-bat against Chicago, 7-6, on Thursday.

Milwaukee, which hasn't made the playoffs since 1982, closes its season at home with three games against the Cubs. The Mets, who are also one game behind the Phillies in the NL East, finish with a three-game set against Florida at Shea Stadium.

Jesse Chavez (0-1) started the home 10th on the mound for Pirates, and gave up a leadoff single to Rickie Weeks. After Jason Kendall sacrificed Weeks to second, Chavez intentionally walked Ray Durham. Chavez struck out Mike Cameron before falling behind and walking pinch-hitter Craig Counsell to fill the bases.

Braun then stepped up to the plate and crushed a pitch deep to left field to end the game. Chavez took the loss while the homer made a winner of Mitch Stetter (3-1), who got the final out of the top of the 10th.

The contest was deadlocked for much of the game behind a pair of strong starting pitching performances. Milwaukee got four innings out of Yovani Gallardo, who was making his first start since May 1. He had been out since after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee in that game, but returned with a strong performance, limiting the Pirates to one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out seven.

Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke tossed seven strong innings, in which he gave up seven hits but only one run, with no walks and two strikeouts.

Neither team made offensive headway until the third inning, when Cameron reached on an infield single, then scored on a deep drive to center from Bill Hall that fell for a double.

But Steve Pearce tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the fourth with a one-out homer to left field.

The Brewers wasted a scoring opportunity in the bottom half after Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy both reached base on misplays by the Pittsburgh defense. But Corey Hart grounded into a fielder's choice, then was caught stealing second before Weeks flied out to end the threat.

The teams' bullpens were effective from that point on. Tyler Yates struck out the side in the eighth for Pittsburgh, while John Grabow worked a perfect ninth.

For Milwaukee, Carlos Villanueva threw two scoreless innings in relief of Gallardo, and Eric Gagne tossed a scoreless seventh. Five other relievers, including Stetter, finished out the game.

Game Notes

Pirates outfielder Nyjer Morgan left the game after straining his left hamstring while running out a single in the first inning...Fielder finished with two hits, to extend his hitting streak to 15 games...Hall and Kendall each had two hits...Nate McLouth had two hits for the Pirates...Pittsburgh left eight runners on base, while Milwaukee stranded five.