In Dazed and Confused when the three nerdy characters are driving around one of the questions they banter about is whether you'd like to live in the ascendancy or descent phase of a civilization. Brewer fans are living in the former right now. They're overrun with prospective All-Stars with new ones reaching the majors every couple of months and the future looks bright indeed. Thanks to the decrepit state of the NL Central, though, they shouldn't be thinking of the present as some insignificant preamble to something else. They can win this thing and Yovani Gallardo is the newest reason why. Overshadowed by Philip Hughes, Tim Linecum and Homer Bailey's debuts, Gallardo made his first start last night and picked up a win after six and a third innings of solid work. He added a run-scoring double as well, which wasn't insignificant either in a 5-4 win. The 21-year old could be the final piece of the puzzle that adds up to a division title in Brewer country and that's better than a kegger any day.
- Chone Figgins' sixth hit snapped a 9-9 tie in the ninth inning and gave the Angels a win over the Astros in a Nolan Ryan-inspired matchup. The hit was the rarely observed walk-off triple and the final leg of a comeback from five runs down for the cardiac kids of Anaheim and the latest leg in a remarkable turnaround for Figgy. He was hitting .133 on May 30 and upped his average to .284 in last night's win.
- Throw out his near-miss no-hitter and June has been a rough month for Curt Schilling. He gave up six runs and 10 hits without striking out a batter in last night's 9-4 loss to the Braves. That makes 15 runs and just six K's in 14 and a third innings against teams not from Oakland this month and a half-run jump in his ERA overall. Brian McCann was the biggest pain in his ass last night with a double and three-run homer accounting for four Atlanta runs.
- Cole Hamels' bid to become the first 10-game winner in the National League was ambushed by the Indians in a 10-1 loss. Kelly Shoppach, backup catcher by day and slugger by night, drove in four runs and Cliff Lee struck out five in seven innings to complete the battery on the Phillies.
- Break up the Royals! They won for the sixth time in eight games 5-3 against statemates St. Louis. They're playing so well that even Odalis Perez picked up a victory, just his second in 10 starts this season. He also fielded his position without incident, something Cardinal starter Adam Wainwright couldn't pull off. He made two errors in the first inning and misplayed a bunt in the fourth but the Royals aren't too haughty to accept the misfortune of others if it leads to a win.
(AP Photo/Darren Hauck)
Comments