It may have been against a less formidable opponent, but the result was much better, as the Brewers got their first series victory of the season. After a rough opening series against the Cubs, the Brewers put a few more runs on the board to take two of three over the Pirates.
In sharp contrast to that opening series, the Brewers put a lot of runners on base via walk. Brewer batters took 20 bases on balls as opposed to just seven versus the Cubs. Eric Sogard and Avisail Garcia led the way with five free passes each.
The two victories included an historic win in game one and a pitching gem from their ace, Brandon Woodruff, in game three.
Let’s take a look at how it went down:
Brewers Come Back in Game One…
It took a while, but the Brewers’ bats came alive just in the nick of time. Ryan Braun’s two-run double capped a four-run and sent the series opener to extra innings, where Sogard delivered the winner.
The Pirates held the Brewers in check for much of the game, taking a 5-1 lead into the final frame. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out when Michael Feliz plunked Keston Hiura. Christian Yelich followed with an RBI groundout, setting the stage for Braun.
Down 1-2 in the count, Braun ripped a double down the left field line to tie the game at 5.
The trip to extra innings gave a glimpse at the new automatic runner rule. Neither team was able to score that runner in the 10th inning. But Sogard singled home Brock Holt in the 11th to give the Brewers a 6-5 lead.
David Phelps slammed the door on the Bucs in the 10th and 11th to earn his first win of the season.
The game marked the first time since 2004 that the Brewers won a game in which they trailed by four or more runs in the ninth.
…Then Return Favor in Game Two
A night after delivering the gut punch, the Brewers took one on the chin after coughing up a 6-2 lead, eventually losing 8-6.
In a game that was largely quiet until the seventh inning, things got ugly for both teams in a hurry.
Tied 2-2, the Brewers took advantage of some wild pitching, taking four straight walks to open the frame. Orlando Arcia followed with a 2-run double off the top of the wall in right-center. Hiura then scored Manny Piña with a sacrifice fly to take a commanding 6-2 lead.
But the Pirates stormed back with four of their own runs, aided by an unusually ineffective Brent Suter and a throwing error by Justin Smoak.
One inning later, Pirates’ second basemen Adam Frazier dealt the final blow, launching a two-run homer off Bobby Wahl.
Josh Lindblom made his Brewers’ debut and pitched well before exiting after just 3.2 innings with back cramps. He was making his first big league start since 2017 after spending the last two seasons in the KBO.
It was certainly a disappointing end to a return that started with promise. Lindblom breezed through the first three innings, striking out four before running into trouble in the fourth. He gave up a walk, a double, and another walk to load the bases, when Guillermo Heredia smacked a two-run single to left. Lindblom then added another strikeout before leaving.
The Brewers tied the game in the sixth on Hiura’s first big fly of the season. He finished the game with three RBI.
Pitching Shines in Finale
Four Brewers’ pitchers combined on a one-hit, 3-0 shutout, but the talk after game was on starter Brandon Woodruff.
“Brilliant, overpowering, I think, is the word that best describes it,” Craig Counsell said of Woodruff’s performance following the game.
Woodruff struck out 10 over 6.1 innings, propelling the Brewers to their first series win of the season. The lone hit came in the first inning off Woodruff, who then retired the next 17 batters in a row.
David Phelps relieved Woodruff and mowed down the only two batters he faced. Devin Williams pitched a clean eighth. And Josh Hader closed out the ninth for his first save of the year.
In total, Brewers’ pitchers racked up 14 strikeouts.
Ben Gamel and Keston Hiura gave the Brewers all the run support they needed, hitting a pair of homers. Gamel’s shot in the third cleared the right field bleachers and landed just shy of splashing down in the Allegheny River.
Hiura Loves PNC
It’s safe to say at this point that Hiura feels right at home in PNC Park. Of his 21 career homers, seven have come in Pittsburgh. He has eight total against the Pirates.
Hiura struggled through the opening series against the Cubs, tallying only one hit in 13 plate appearances.
But his bat came alive in Pittsburgh, however. He went 5-for-11 in the series with two homers and five RBIs.
What’s Wrong with Yelich?
It’s also safe to say that nobody needed Thursday’s day off more than Christian Yelich. His offensive woes continued, as he did not get a single hit the entire series, after getting just one in the opening series.
The 2018 NL MVP is now 1-for-27 on the young season and has struck out 12 times. That’s a tough stretch for anyone, but it’s uncharacteristic to say the least for the two-time defending batting champ.
It’s difficult to pin down the issue. Yelich insists it’s timing. Pitchers have consistently gotten him to swing and miss at sliders and cutters down and in.
Whatever the issue may be, it’s cause for concern for a team that hasn’t gotten significant production from elsewhere. As mentioned before, Hiura broke out against Pittsburgh, but power numbers across the board have not been there yet.
On Deck
The Brewers (3-3) host the St. Louis Cardinals (2-3) in their home opener on Friday. Brett Anderson returns from the IL for his first start of the year. The Cardinals counter with their ace, Jack Flaherty (1-0, 2.57 ERA).
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