A shaky first inning for both pitchers resulted in three combined runs, two for the Brewers as they lead 3-1 after four innings.
The Braves started the scoring in the first inning off Brewers starter Marco Estrada when Martin Prado led off with a double. With one out, Chipper Jones doubled him home for a run, giving the Braves more runs and the same number of hits as they had the entire night last night. Brian McCann followed with a sharp liner to center field that dropped, but Chipper was waved home in idiotic fashion and thrown out at home plate.
The Brewers answered with two runs in the home half of the first when Mike Minor struggled to find the strike zone, walking the first three batters he faced and throwing only two strikes. That led to a two-run single by Prince Fielder. Minor was able to escape further trouble by inducing two grounders that resulted in three outs.
The Braves put two on in the second when Alex Gonzalez singled and Matt Young walked with one out, but after Minor bunted both into scoring position, Prado struck out to end the inning. A McCann single in the third has been the only other hit for the Braves.
Minor allowed a leadoff single in the second but erased it with another double play. After a perfect third, Minor allowed a run in the fourth when Fielder singled, advanced to second on a ground ball and scored on a Yuniesky Betancourt double. Minor left two on base following the double.
Minor sits at 67 pitches after four innings, while Estrada is at 54. Minor has done well to avoid even more trouble due to five groundouts. Estrada has settled in since the second inning.