The Brewers and Rockies have split their four-game series in Denver this weekend. Milwaukee came into the series winners of nine of ten games, while Colorado looked to continue their five game win streak. In the end, Colorado’s streak would end at seven games, taking the first two of the set, while the Brewers won the last two games over the weekend.
Here is a further look into how each game panned out.
Game One
Woodruff Struggles Early
Brewers’ ace Brandon Woodruff had what some would consider his worst start of the season this year. He threw 85 pitches in five innings, surrendering five runs while striking out five.
The unfortunate truth of this start is that one bad inning got Woodruff the loss.
In the bottom of the first inning, Woodruff faced eight Rockies’ batters. He got two outs in the first three batters, but proceeded to allow a single to Trevor Story and a walk to Ryan McMahon.
Then, C.J. Cron stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He would send a 1-1 pitch to right field for a grand slam. The following batter, Garrett Hampson, sent a pitch to left field for a home run as well. This would be Woodruff’s worst inning of the game, not facing more than five batters in an inning the rest of the game.
Notable Performances
There was not much going right for the Brewers all game, but infielder Luís Urías had a good night at the plate as the leadoff hitter. He finished 2-for-5 with this three-RBI double in the seventh inning off of reliever Yency Almonte.
Wicho clears the bases and the Crew’s back in this game 😤#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/gcJupUjGuG
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 18, 2021
As for the Rockies, two players stood above the rest in the win. One of these players was starting pitcher German Marquez. He would walk more batters than he struck out (three walks and two strikeouts), but pitched six innings of one-hit baseball. For a pitcher with a 4.26 ERA, that is quite the outing.
The other Rockie that had a great night was none other than first baseman C.J. Cron. Not only did he hit a first inning grand slam, he’d finish the night going 4-for-4 with a double as well.
Game Two
Gold Glove second baseman Kolten Wong returned to the lineup for the second game in the series, but would not be of much help in this one. His leadoff single would be his only offensive production all game, but it was this defensive play in the second inning that would help keep Milwaukee in the game longer.
NSFW.#VoteBrewers | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/UpSIJSIPJB
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 19, 2021
Neither starter had a great night on the mound, nor did they perform badly. Brewers’ starter Corbin Burnes gave up four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings, striking out six. Rockies’ starter Antonio Senzatela would go six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, and striking out four. Both bullpens performed very well, each using five relievers to finish off the ballgame. The Brewers’ relievers would only allow three hits, but one of these was a walk-off single off of Devin Williams by Cron. Former Brewer Jhoulys Chacín took home the win after pitching a scoreless tenth inning.
Notable Performances
The Rockies’ offense as a whole took it to the Brewers’ pitching staff in this game, especially Corbin Burnes. Colorado had 11 hits total with four hitters having multiple hits. While they had no home runs in this game, the Rockies had five doubles from Hampson, Yonathon Daza, Raimel Tapia, and Brendan Rodgers (two doubles).
Milwaukee’s run production ran through two red-hot hitters in Urías and Willy Adames, and one struggling Jackie Bradley Jr. Urías finished 2-for-2 in four plate appearances with a solo home run, while Adames would go 2-for-4 with a late-game RBI double. Bradley’s struggles would continue at the plate in this one outside of one at-bat in which he sent a ball deep into right-center field for a two-RBI double.
JBJ to the gap… Brewers lead!#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/xFzNpmNa9e
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 19, 2021
Game Three
A common theme in this series, though not a common theme for the season, was relatively poor starting pitching. Adrian Houser was no different, giving up five runs on nine hits while only striking out two batters. Houser pitched six innings in Saturday’s game on only 86 pitches, eating up innings to help limit the use of the bullpen after Friday’s game.
In the top of the ninth inning, with Milwaukee down four runs, shortstop Willy Adames stepped to the plate with a runner on first base.
Then, the claws came out.
𝙋𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛𝙛, 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙮!
Adames hits a huge home run to put us back up in the 9th.@willya02 | #MakeItMajor pic.twitter.com/fgKSFbiUwl
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 20, 2021
Willy’s home run put the Brewers up for good, giving them their first win of the series heading into Sunday.
Notable Performances
Not only did Adames hit a go-ahead home run in this game, but he also did much more, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs, his first of which coming on a double in the first inning. He’d have three doubles in this game, totaling four extra-base hits on the night.
Game Four
Kolten Wong’s return to the lineup brought hope that the team may see more consistent offense.
In this game, Kolten further charged that sense of hope.
While going 3-for-5 is notable enough, Wong sent his fifth home run of the season to the opposite field, bringing in two runs total. This second inning home run gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead.
Kolten Wong has seen two pitches today:
⚾ First-inning single
💣 Second-inning bomb#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/gXtt7tFyXz— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 20, 2021
Notable Performances
Outside of Wong, two other Brewers had multi-hit games. These two, Daniel Vogelbach and Derek Fisher, would go a combined 5-for-9 in this game, putting pressure on Rockies’ pitchers all day long. Fisher got his first hits as a Milwaukee Brewer in this game, getting an RBI on a two-out single in the first inning. Vogelbach would drive in the game-winning run on a single in the ninth.
Sunday’s game saw the revival of the Devin Williams of old.
Well, not that old, but it’s been a while, let’s just say that.
Williams gave up a walk-off single in the second game of the series, but in Sunday’s game, he was dominant. He would only pitch in the eighth inning, but struck out every batter he faced.
Nothin’ but filth from @DTrainn_23 🛸#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/E0STPIFx1D
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 20, 2021
What’s Next?
Following this weekend’s series, the Brewers continue their tour of the NL West with a visit to Phoenix. They’ll take on the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three game series before taking a day off on Thursday. The last time these two squared off against one another, the Brewers swept them in a four game series, outscoring Arizona 21-10.
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