The Milwaukee Brewers have played extra innings games in three out of their last four contests. Unfortunately they have lost all three with one loss coming to the Cincinnati Reds (11 innings) and two to the St. Louis Cardinals (12 and 10 innings). Their most recent loss against the Cardinals came with a controversial move that manager Pat Murphy made in the 10th inning.
Pat Murphy tried to play match ups during the 10th inning of an eventual 3-2 Milwaukee Brewers loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
With the game tied at two in the 10th inning Brewers manager Pat Murphy sent Joel Payamps to the mound. Payamps got two outs on four pitches but with Nolan Arenado due up third in the inning and a ghost runner on second Murphy elected to intentionally walk Arenado and bring in southpaw Hoby Milner to face lefty hitter Brendan Donovan.
The Cardinals countered by using a right-handed pinch hitter in Luken Baker. Baker ended up delivering a go-ahead RBI single that ended up being the difference in the game. Baker had a clutch pinch hit home run against Milwaukee during their last August series and he came up huge for the Cardinals once again in this situation.
Milwaukee Brewers fans were confused why Pat Murphy made this decision in the 10th inning.
I fail to understand the rationale behind wanting Milner vs. Donovan that much more than Payamps vs. Arenado, especially when there are already two outs and the Cardinals were always going to pinch-hit with a RHB against Milner.
— Jack Stern (@ByJackStern) September 5, 2024
No reason for Murphy to do all that with Payamps & Milner. Just trust Payamps. Had to know they would PH with a righty. Just dumb. #Brewers
— Tim Muma (@Tim_Muma) September 5, 2024
Not a huge fan of intentionally putting runners on in extra innings…especially when you’re doing it to get Milner to the mound.
Questionable decision making. We shall see how it plays out.
— Pitchers⚾️ & Pitchers🍺 (@BrewersOfMKE) September 5, 2024
I am very confused but let’s let it ride.
Murph decided to intentionally walk Arenado with two outs (totally fine). But instead of let Payamps face lefty Brendan Donovan … Hoby Milner will enter.
Marmol counters with righty Luken Baker.
2-2 T10 … two outs.
— Dominic Cotroneo (@Dom_Cotroneo) September 5, 2024
Pat Murphy explained his decision making process.
Post game Pat Murphy was asked about his decision to lift Joel Payamps, intentionally walk Arenado, and bring in Hoby Milner. Murphy’s response revolved around the fact he didn’t want to face Arenado, Payamps had pitched and warmed up a lot and his fuel was running low, and that he didn’t expect the Cardinals to pinch hit for Donovan in that situation. He also went on to say that he liked Milner’s chances of getting a ground ball.
.@AdamMcCalvy asked about the 10th inning decision to lift Joel Payamps after four pitches for Hoby Milner. Here was the response from Pat Murphy: pic.twitter.com/0RjCadxABJ
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) September 5, 2024
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