Yovani Gallardo struck out nine in eight dominant innings and Prince Fielder added a two-run homer to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-1 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday.
Ryan Braun collected three hits and scored a pair of runs for the Brewers.
The Diamondbacks squandered their best opportunity in the first inning when Willie Bloomquist was thrown out at the plate by Braun. Gallardo (1-0) set down 14 of the next 15 batters as Milwaukee took the lead.
Braun, who scored the Brewers’ first run on a sacrifice fly by Jerry Hairston Jr. in the fourth, doubled down the right field line with two outs in the seventh.
Instead of putting Fielder on intentionally, the Diamondbacks decided to let a tiring Ian Kennedy (0-1) pitch to the slugger. Fielder responded by taking a slider down and in and lining it into the first few rows of seats in right to send Bernie Brewer down the slide and put his team up, 4-0.
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