Cards Bullpen Comes Up Huge, Valverde Says Yanks Are Done, and Milwaukee's Cruising

Brewers 9, D-Backs 4 — Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. He’s 6-for-8 so far against Arizona pitching. The Brewers can wrap it up tomorrow night with Shaun Marcum on the mound. I selfishly hope this is the case because I’m anxious for a Brewers-Phillies NLCS. However, the more I disregard the existence of the Cardinals and their suddenly capable bullpen, the better they play. As John Sterling might say at least once a game, you just can’t predict baseball.

Tigers 5, Yankees 3 — Max Scherzer hadn’t allowed less than four hits in an outing all season long. Yesterday he allowed two over six innings, though he did walk four. The Yankee bats did absolutely nothing until the eighth and ninth innings and it’s kind of amazing how irrelevant A-Rod has become. I keep waiting for him to do something other than ground out or pop up. I’m still waiting. And since Derek Jeter gets praised to such an obscene degree, it’s worth mentioning that he was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. He had multiple opportunities with men on base and failed to deliver each time. Perhaps the Captain is waiting until November. If you hated Joe Girardi’s bullpen moves, read this. I’m still getting over the need for Mo’s participation in Game 1 with the Yankees up six runs with two outs in the ninth. I’ll leave you with this quote from Jose Valverde:

“It’s over already. (Justin) Verlander has it tomorrow. The next day we have the celebration in Detroit. They have a good team, but I think that’s it for them.”

Interesting.

[Photo via TBL archives]