A day after a forgettable 15-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs, the Milwaukee Brewers evened the series with a 4-3 victory. 20 games into the season, the Brewers have surly had more than their fair share of injuries. Christian Yelich is in Milwaukee getting a MRI on his back. Kolten Wong missed time with a strained oblique. Lorenzo Cain is still on the IL, and was joined by Brett Anderson and Josh Lindblom following Friday’s loss. With so many key players out of commission, it was the bench and bullpen who carried the Brewers to victory on Saturday.
Brent Suter and the Bullpen
The Brewers sent Freddy Peralta to the hill in Game Two of the Brewers’ third series against the Cubs. Peralta, though, struggled with a high pitch count. He finished the game with four innings pitched, allowed five hits, two runs, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Trailing 2-0, Brent Suter entered the game.
Suter pitched two scoreless innings, but what was most amazing was his great athletic play to end the sixth inning. With two runners on, David Bote hit a ground ball to first base. Keston Hiura fielded the ball, but rushed his throw to Suter covering the base. Suter made an amazing catch and beat Bote to the bag, leading to several posts on social media such as this:
Brent Suter for Gold Glove
— Blake (@BlakeRootabaga) April 24, 2021
The play ended the Cubs’ threat, and the score remained 2-2.
JP Feyereisen made yet another appearance for the Brewers, and was his usual dominant self. He pitched a scoreless seventh frame, pitching around one walk. Feyereisen has made 11 appearances so far this season and has yet to allow an earned run.
Devin Williams pitched the eighth inning. He allowed a home run to Jason Heyward, but was otherwise solid. Williams appears to be more comfortable on the mound after struggling earlier in the season.
Josh Hader pitched the ninth inning. He allowed a leadoff walk, but retired the next three Cubs’ hitters. He earned his fourth save in as many chances.
The Bench Provides the Offense
Cubs’ pitchers were able to keep the Brewers scoreless through four innings. Trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning, the Brewers scored two runs in unconventional ways. Keston Hiura, who had three hits, led off the inning with a double. After Jackie Bradley Jr. popped out and Luis Urias flew out, newly called up Corey Ray was sent in for his first Major League at bat. With two outs and a runner on second, Ray drew a crucial walk to keep the inning alive. Though it does not seem like much, it kept the Brewers’ hopes of cashing in alive.
Kolten Wong followed with a walk, loading the bases. Omar Narvaez, too, drew a walk, scoring Hiura, and making the score 2-1. Cubs’ pitcher Rex Brothers then hit Tyrone Taylor with a pitch, scoring Ray from third and tying the game.
Two innings later, in the top of the seventh, Craig Counsell rolled the dice and sent his backup catch, Manny Pina, to hit for Brent Suter. Kolten Wong had led off the inning with a single, and Narvaez had flown out. With one out, Pina launched his second home run of the season into the stands, giving the Brewers a 4-2 lead.
The Hayward home run in the eighth made it 4-3, but Hader, as mentioned, closed the door for save.
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