Hunter Renfroe may have taken the title of “Owner of the Cincinnati Reds” away from teammate Christian Yelich this weekend. Renfroe’s blast was his third in as many games in the series. Victor Caratini also went deep and the Milwaukee Brewers come home winners of three straight. More importantly, they are now tied for first place in the division due to the St. Louis Cardinals’ loss on Sunday.
Related: Lorenzo Cain hints at retirement
Victor Caratini: Home Run Specialist
Last season, Manny Pina was the Milwaukee Brewers’ backup catcher and hit 13 home runs. With his departure, a key bat left the bench. When Pedro Severino was suspended for PED’s during Spring Training, the backup catcher position became even bleaker. Enter Victor Caratini who has been nothing short of a god-send for the Brewers. In 30 games, Caratini is hitting .261/.377/.466 with five home runs and 13 RBI.
After the Brewers took a 1-0 lead on a Luis Urias double, Victor Caratini hit a two-run bomb to extend the lead to 3-0.
Victor Caratini extends the Brewers lead with a homer! pic.twitter.com/bNCczCSKSO
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 19, 2022
According to Would it dong? on Twitter, the only ballpark that Caratini’s home run would not have gone out in is Angels’ Stadium:
Victor Caratini vs Mike Minor#ThisIsMyCrew
Home Run 💣
Exit velo: 102.9 mph
Launch angle: 31 deg
Proj. distance: 396 ftThis would have been a home run in 29/30 MLB ballparks.
Only Angel Stadium would've held this one in.MIL (3) @ CIN (0)
🔺 4th pic.twitter.com/Y8KxpEMThx— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) June 19, 2022
Hunter Renfroe Mashes Baseballs
Speaking of god-sends for the Milwaukee Brewers, David Stearns was able to unload Jackie Bradley Jr.’s horrible contract (with Alex Binelas) on the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Hunter Renfroe right before the lockout began. The deal has certainly worked out for the Milwaukee Brewers as Renfroe is now tied for the club lead in home runs this season (13). He hit an absolute moonshot to give the Brewers a 6-3 lead in the seventh inning.
Hunter Renfroe hit this to Kentucky pic.twitter.com/QkpjRqrpH3
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 19, 2022
According to Would it dong?, that home run would have been gone in any other ballpark.
Hunter Renfroe vs Joel Kuhnel#ThisIsMyCrew
Home Run 💣
Exit velo: 108.3 mph
Launch angle: 28 deg
Proj. distance: 444 ftNo doubt about that one 🔒
That's a dinger in all 30 MLB ballparksMIL (6) @ CIN (3)
🔺 7th pic.twitter.com/o1h5ddztcf— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) June 19, 2022
Hunter Renfroe is now hitting .250/.298/.495 with 13 home runs and 27 RBI. For comparison, Jackie Bradley Jr. is hitting .232/.285/.335 with a home run and 21 RBI for the Red Sox.
Andrew McCutchen Continues to Amaze
Not too long ago, Andrew McCutchen was mired in a 1-40 slump. Ever since he snapped out of it, though, he has been the Brewers most consistent hitter. Today, Cutch was 2-4 from the plate with a walk and two runs scored. Normally a DH, McCutchen played left field today and made an amazing diving catch early in the game.
This dad covers ground!
Max speed of 29.2 MPH.@TheCUTCH22 | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/o9uUMe3zmH
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 19, 2022
Andrew McCutchen has been extremely hot at the plate during the month of June. This month, he is hitting .314/.407/.392. He also has had a hit in 13 games this month compared to just four hitless games. Since the month began, McCutchen’s batting line has improved from .214/.262/.308 to .244/.307/.340.
Related: Andrew McCutchen explains why he chose the Brewers in free agency
Adrian Houser Gets the Win
Adrian Houser got the win for the Brewers against the Cincinnati Reds. He is now 4-7 with a 4.24 ERA. Houser labored through six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. He also struck out five Reds hitters.
The Brewers used four relievers to finish the final three innings. Trevor Kelley pitched 0.2 innings before being removed in favor of Hoby Milner. Milner got the final out of the seventh inning, stranding the two runners he inheritied.
Brad Boxberger pitched a perfect eighth inning, earning his 14th hold of the season. His ERA is now down to 2.39. Devin Williams pitched the ninth for his fifth save of the season. Closer Josh Hader is expected to rejoin the team in Milwaukee.
Game Notes
- Keston Hiura played first base against the left handed Reds pitcher Mark Minor; he was 1-4 with a walk
- Willy Adames had homered in each of the past two games against the Reds; he was 1-5 today with a single
- Mark Mathias broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning with a sacrafice fly
- Luis Urias was 1-5 with his RBI double and a run scored
- Christian Yelich and Tyrone Taylor combined to go 0-7 with two walks
Up Next
The Milwaukee Brewers return home for a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The two teams are tied atop the National League Central Division.
Corbin Burnes (4-4, 2.52 ERA) will take the mound for the Brewers against Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas (5-4, 2.62 ERA). Mikolas was fell one strike short of a no-hitter in his last outing.
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