If you needed an extra-base hit, and you could choose any hitter/pitcher match-up you wanted, wouldn’t Ryan Braun/Joe Saunders be near the top of your list? That’s not to say that Saunders had anything but a good season, but it’s just the idea. Braun is a strong, smart hitter with a controlled swing. Saunders is a lefty who thrives on getting hitters to do weak, dumb things with a wild swing.
Diamondbacks vs. Brewers: Milwaukee Strikes First
In the first inning, Jerry Hairston singled up the middle to set up the Braun/Saunders showdown, and Braun did exactly what you’d expect -- he hit a double in the left-center gap, and Hairston scored without a throw to make it 1-0, Brewers.
Now Braun stealing third? Probably didn’t see that one coming. That put a runner on third with one out. But after a walk to Prince Fielder -- who did a completely charming and not-annoying “beast-mode” pantomime that we will in no way be sick of before the end of the playoffs -- Rickie Weeks grounded into an inning-ending double play.
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