Braun Continues Pink Bat Magic

It wasn't Bill Hall this year, but rather Ryan Braun that benefited from the use of the pink bats this year. Braun hit not one, but two solo shots to lead the Brewers to a 5-3 victory. Braun stepped up where Hall left off, although I'm not sure what color bat would help Hall find his swing these days. He went 0 for 3, dropping his batting average to .197. For those of you keeping score, that makes two starters on the Brewers with a sub .200 batting average, joining Weeks at .193.

Braun will get all the glory for the win, but much of the credit also deserves to go to Jeff Suppan. Soup went seven innings, striking out four and giving up just one run. He becomes the first starting pitcher not named Ben Sheets to get a win for the Crew in well over a month.

After Suppan left, the big question was who would come out of the bullpen if the Crew was in a save situation? Nearly hours after we said it was time to end the experiment, Gagne was pulled out of the team's closer role. It was Solomon Torres that got the ball in the ninth, but he got himself into a jam and Yost pulled him. Shouse came in and gave up a hit on the first pitch to Molina, but then retired Adam Kennedy to earn his first save of the season.

It was a true closer by committee save today, but we wonder how long this will last. I wouldn't be picking up Shouse in any fantasy leagues if you're looking for saves. Torres is a likely choice, as he's been in that role before, but I think Mota has a good chance to emerge as the guy, too. It will probably be two or three weeks before someone does solidify the job, if it's not just given back to Gagne. If Gagne doesn't earn his job back, what does his role become with the team.

Still one more game in this series, first pitch tomorrow night at 7:05.

Box Score.

TBC's Player of the Game: Ryan Braun. Two Home Runs in a game will usually do it.

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)