So with one out in the bottom of the first inning, Jaime García walked Jerry Hairston, and I was just about to start writing something brilliant about how you can't walk anybody ahead of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder because those are the only guys who can beat you in this lineup, so if they're going to hit home runs at least make sure their solo home runs.
Brewers vs. Cardinals: Ryan Braun’s Homer Gives Crew 2-1 Lead
No sooner had that puny thought entered my consciousness than Garcia threw his first pitch to Braun, who hit it halfway to Lake Michigan to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead.
Hey, anybody can walk a guy, then throw a meatball.
But Garcia soon looked like he was about to implode.
His first pitch to Prince Fielder was a fastball that nailed Fielder and elicited a warning to both benches from plate-umpire Gary Darling. Then he walked Rickie Weeks, who literally hasn't done anything since July, on four pitches.
That got the Cardinals' bullpen up and going, and it got Tony La Russa worrying a lot more in the first inning than he prefers.
Fortunately, after a visit from pitching coach Dave Duncan, Garcia struck out both Yuniesky Betancourt and Carlos Gómez to limit the damage.
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