Brewers use big inning to take 2-0 series lead

Baseball Betting Lines

10/02/2011 - Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two walks, a balk and a throwing error opened the door to a big sixth inning, and the Brewers capitalized in a big way Sunday.

Corey Hart, Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Braun had consecutive base hits that accounted for four of Milwaukee's five runs in the pivotal inning, boosting the Brewers to 9-4 win and a commanding lead over Arizona after two games of their National League Division Series. The other run, the tie-breaker, came on a squeeze bunt from Jonathan Lucroy.

Braun went 3-for-4 with three RBI, including a homer in the opening inning off Daniel Hudson.

"We did some really good things offensively today," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "That's a type game where you feel like offensively you're going to keep scoring runs and hopefully because of it, it builds the confidence in the whole lineup, because they all came through today."

The Brewers are one win away from advancing to their first championship series since 1982, when they beat the Angels in the ALCS before falling to St. Louis in the World Series.

Paul Goldschmidt, Chris Young and Justin Upton all went deep off Zack Greinke, but it wasn't enough for the Diamondbacks, who will try to stay alive in Game 3 of this best-of-five series Tuesday at Arizona. First pitch is 9:37 p.m. (et).

"We have hope," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "We're going to go to our environment now. We played better at home just as well as the Brewers have."

The Diamondbacks used four pitchers in the sixth inning, when the Brewers sent 10 men to the plate to break a 4-4 tie. Jerry Hairston Jr. doubled with one out. Brad Ziegler then replaced Hudson (0-1) but was called for a balk, and Yuniesky Betancourt walked to set the stage for Lucroy, who put down a bunt toward first base.

Ziegler jumped off the mound, pounced on the ball and shoveled it to home plate, but the throw went past catcher Miguel Montero, allowing the go-ahead run to score.

"Lucroy's done it several times," Gibson said of the bunt. "It happens all around the league. It's just an excitable moment. I thought [Ziegler] was going to tag him at first. He obviously thought he had a chance at it."

Pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay was intentionally walked before Hart lined a single to center on a first pitch for a 6-4 difference. On the very next pitch, Morgan laced a hit to right-center to plate two more. Only two pitches later, Braun capped the outburst with another RBI single, this one to center.

Joe Paterson and Bryan Shaw had to finish the inning on the mound for the Diamondbacks, who never recovered despite putting two men on base in each of the final three innings.

Montero lined out to pitcher LaTroy Hawkins to end the top of the seventh. Francisco Rodriguez struck out pinch-hitter Geoff Blum to cap the eighth and John Axford fanned Goldschmidt to end the contest.

Greinke, who was making his first playoff appearance and had gone unbeaten at home during the 2011 season, allowed eight hits and four runs while fanning seven batters. Greinke, who was pitching on three days' rest, was replaced by Takashi Saito (1-0) for the sixth inning. Chris Young doubled with one out in the frame, but was left stranded when Gerardo Parra struck out.

Before that, the Brewers bolted to an early lead. Hart singled to start the bottom of the first, and Braun homered to center with one out.

"The main thing with Braun is this year he's been consistent the whole time, the whole season he's put good at-bats," Greinke said. "I don't know if he's even been in a slump like maybe a three-game slump or something. But all year long he's been consistent."

Goldschmidt led off the second with a blast over the wall in right-center, but the Brewers got three straight hits in the third to extend their lead to 4-1. Braun doubled to right, Prince Fielder singled to center and Rickie Weeks hit a one-hop triple off the wall in center.

Young homered to center with one out in the fourth, and Upton went deep with Aaron Hill aboard in the fifth.

Game Notes

Hudson was charged with nine hits and five runs over 5 1/3 innings. He also had six strikeouts...Arizona went 0-for-10 with men in scoring position and left 10 on base...Shaun Marcum is expected to start Game 3 for Milwaukee, while rookie Josh Collmenter pitches for Arizona...Hill doubled off the wall, right off the line in left field in the first inning for a supposed double. However, left field umpire James Hoye ruled foul. Hill returned to the plate then singled, but was left stranded.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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