Not in the starting lineup to due injuring his toe, Colorado Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer was available to pinch hit and that he did in the ninth inning with Eric Young Jr. on third base and one out on the board. Cuddyer singled up the middle for the go-ahead run and the eventual 4-3 victory.
Closer Rafael Betancourt allowed a double to Mat Gamel in the bottom of the ninth and made everyone sweat after Gamel stole third base, but Jonathon Lucroy struck out to end the game.
Much credit needs to go to Jason Giambi and Eric Young Jr. for scoring that last Rockies run. Giambi singled to start the inning, allowing Young to enter the game. Young then took advantage of a throwing error by John Axford on the pickoff attempt, advancing to second base. Junior tagged up on Marco Scutaro's fly out to set Cuddyer's hit in motion.
Troy Tulowitzki started the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning and then starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin extended it to 2-0 with an RBI single during a bases-loaded situation in the top of the fourth inning. It might have been 3-0, but the umpire called catcher Ramon Hernandez, who was lumbering to the plate, out at home. Hernandez was later called out at home plate again after Chris Nelson grounded into a fielder's choice.
And so Chacin entered the bottom of the fourth with no hits or baserunners allowed and four strikeouts. Rickie Weeks grounded out to start things, but it was Norichika Aoki who delivered the surprise of the game, as well as left fielder Carlos Gonzalez. Aoki lined a ball to left field, which Gonzalez attempted to nab on a dive. It backfired as the ball went straight to the wall. Aoki ran and ran and ran some more until he touched home plate unabated.
Chacin went seven strong innings, allowed three runs, hits two batters, walked one and struck out six. The other two runs scored in the sixth inning on back-to-back singles by Corey Hart and Mat Gamel. The Rockies' third run of the game came in the top half of the sixth with a home run to right center field, his first at Miller Park since 2006.
Matt Reynolds and Matt Belisle were solid in the eighth innings, the latter striking out both batters he faced.
The Rockies (7-6, 2-2 away) will have Drew Pomeranz on the mound for Saturday night's game against Marco Estrada.
For more on these teams, check out Rockies blog Purple Row and Brewers blog Brew Crew Ball. Head over to Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish for more news and notes around the league.