Running the Bases with Alexandra Shloss: Game #44, Nationals at Brewers, 7/29/12

We're back for the second game, and this time we are armed with posters.

Like all the 40-50 year old autograph hunters, all I wanted was to meet Bryce Harper. He had come over the first two games of the series (not the two I went to) but that was it. It's okay, maybe another time. I just want to meet him before I die. But I probably won't die for a while, Lord willing. Anyway, I just enjoyed him from afar and looked forward to seeing him play.

Corey Brown came over.

We congratulated him on his first career home run and we showed him the sign we made. He said it was the first time anyone had ever made a sign for him.

Okay, I tell people Paul Molitor is related to me. But he isn't really. He is related to my mom's distant cousin through marriage.

Gio Gonzalez on the mound.

Look at all that eye black.

Our seats were in right field so we could be near Bryce. After a Lombardozzi homer, Bryce grounded out in the first and struck out in the third.

Here's the legend.

The Brewers got two runs in the first. In the bottom of the third, Braun walked.

Then Corey Hart singled and Braun scored. Hart was out trying to turn the single into a double.

Here's Michael Morse

We love Miller Park.

Lucroy singled but didn't score.

Amber and Michael Morse. Some day it will be a closer picture.

I really admire Tyler Clippard.

Here's Aoki, my brother's favorite player.

He was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fourth but he was stranded.

Gio Gonzalez singled in the top of the fifth.

Bryce Harper running through his routine.

But he struck out.

Meanwhile, Amber and I toured.

While we were walking around the park, the players scored a lot. When we came back to our seats in the top of the 7th, it was 5-2 Milwaukee.

Corey Brown came in to hit for Gio.

He singled.

Then Lombardozzi singled.

Bryce Harper walked, loading the bases.

Here's a Bryce Harper fan.

Zimmerman grounded into a double play, but Brown scored, and the Nationals cut the deficit to 5-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, Corey Hart singled.

And Rickie Weeks homered. 7-3 Brewers.

Top of the ninth, Michael Morse walked.

Then he went to second on a wild pitch.

And then Roger Bernadina homered and the score was now 7-5. Never count the Nationals out!

After Rodriguez gave up another hit, John Axford came on to relieve in the eighth.

Corey Brown doubled.

Lombardozzi (former Cub) grounded out, driving in Flores and moving Corey to third.

Bryce Harper was up. Corey Brown scored on Axford's wild pitch. Nationals tie it up at 7!

Bryce Harper grounded out, but seriously look at this kid's heart!

In the bottom of the eighth, both Carlos Gomez and Aoki homered. Wah. Corey Hart doubled.

Stammen came in to relieve Mattheus, so the outfielders just chilled.

Hi, former Cub Mark DeRosa.

Here's John Axford up to bat. He struck out but he looked good doing it.

This kid was an amazing dancer. They kept cutting away from him, so the crowd would boo, so they'd bring him back to raucous cheering. It was awesome and this photo doesn't do it justice.