MLB Playoffs: Brewers Take Advantage Of Diamondbacks Aggressive Nature, Win Game 1 Of NLDS

Kirk Gibson's aggressive mentality works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. In Game 1 of the NLDS series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Diamondbacks got burned on a number of plays where caution might have been the better part of valor. But that's not how Arizona has played baseball all summer long, and as Gibson said during an in-game TV interview, he's not going to change anything now.

In the first inning, on the first pitch of the game, Willie Bloomquist led-off with a hit. He stole second with one out and when Justin Upton hit a line drive to shallow left, thirdbase coach Matt Williams sent Bloomquist to test Bryan Braun's arm. Braun delivered a strike to home plate and Willie was out by several steps.

In the sixth inning with two outs, Yuniesky Betancourt tripled off the left field wall. Many teams would have pitched around or intentionally walked the catcher, Jonathan Lucroy, to get to the pitcher but that's now how the D-backs have played things all season long. Lucroy hit a single to plate the second run of the game.

Then in the seventh inning after Ryan Braun doubled and Ian Kennedy had already thrown over 100 pitches, Gibson elected to let Ian pitch to the lefty, Prince Fielder.

With a base open, he could have walked Fielder or he could have brought in his lefty specialist Joe Paterson who was warmed up in the pen. Instead, Kennedy threw a breaking ball inside that Fielder deposited in the seats to put the Brewers up 4-0.

We'll surely hear Gibson asked about these decisions in the postgame press conference but his answer will likely be some variant on what he said during the game, we're not going to change anything now. Nor would we expect this Diamondbacks team to panic. 

Offensively, the D-backs were shut down by Brewer's ace Yovani Gallardo.

Bloomquist had two hits in the game and Upton only that one in the first inning. Ryan Roberts hit a solo home rum in the eighth to put Arizona on the board. Gallardo's line was a sterling eight innings pitched, four hits, one walk, one run and nine strikeouts.

Kennedy will surely be disappointed in his performance: 6.2 innings, eight hits, one walk, two hit batters, four earned runs allowed.

Game 2 of the series is Sunday at 2:07 p.m. Arizona time. Daniel Hudson will go against Zack Greinke who's pitching on short rest in a decision that could come back to haunt the Brewers (if it doesn't work).

For more on this NLDS series, visit AZ Snake Pit and Brew Crew Ball.

Diamondbacks Vs. Brewers, Game 1 Score Update: Brewers Strike First

Things are tight through six innings with each team throwing their aces in Game 1 of the 2011 NLDS series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers. Yovani Gallardo has been slightly better than Ian Kennedy which accounts for the 2-0 lead for the home team.

In the fourth inning, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder had back-to-back no out hits and then Kennedy hit Rickie Weeks to load the bases with no out. Fielder's double down the left field line took advantage of Ryan Roberts shifting off third to open the hole that Prince was able to find.

Brewers third baseman Jerry Hairston plated the first run of the series with a sac fly to center. Kennedy got out of the inning with only the one run allowed.

In the sixth inning with two outs Yuniesky Betancourt tripled off the left field wall. He scored on a single by catcher Jonathan Lucroy who wasn't walked to get the pitcher.

Through six innings Gallardo has thrown 75 pitches and has given up three hits, one walk and punched out six. Kennedy has thrown 94 pitches and given up six hit, one walk, hit two batters and surrendered two runs. Kennedy's spots is due up sixth in the inning. It will be interesting to see if he gets one more inning.

The D-backs are notorious for finding offense late in games so there's certainly no panic in their dugout down a run. Montero, Young, and Overbay are due up in the top of the seventh. Willie Bloomquist has two of the D-backs three hits.

For more on this NLDS series, visit AZ Snake Pit and Brew Crew Ball.

Diamondbacks Vs. Brewers, Game 1 Score Update: Tight Game As Expected With Aces Dealing

The Arizona Diamondbacks began their 2011 NLDS series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a hit on the first pitch of the game. Willie Bloomquist lined one to center off Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo to kick things off. From there we got a good look at how the Diamondbacks play baseball with some aggressive base running that was effective and costly.

Bloomquist stole second with one out and was standing on second when Justin Upton laced a ball to left field. The D-backs tested Ryan Braun's arm early in a send that was iffy but totally in character for the Snakes. Bloomquist was gunned down at the plate and the scoring chance was eliminated.

Ian Kennedy through three innings has looked sharp. He's allowed one hit, one walk and punched out two Brewers. Young Kennedy has shown no signs of nerves in his first postseason start and seems to be handling the pressure of being the ace with no problems.

The D-backs have two hits and three strikeouts against Gallardo who also looks ready for the challenge.

Kirk Gibson predicted a tight series and that's exactly what we have so far. The game is tied 0-0 going into the fourth inning. 

Diamondbacks vs. Brewers: Game 1 Underway, 0-0 In 3rd Inning

The Diamondbacks and Brewers have announced their lineups for Game 1 of the NLDS. A surprising change at first base headlines the news for Arizona, while Casey McGehee sits for Milwaukee.