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The Brewers enter the All-Star break on a great run, having won 7 straight.
After the 4-game sweep of Portland, the Brewers traveled to Baltimore to take on the 4th place Lords for 3 games and got another sweep.
In game 1 they got great pitching from a pair of youngsters- Adam Getchell and Jaden Francis- when Will Smart had to leave early in the 4th inning due to a minor injury. The three pitchers combined for a shutout as the Brewers won 5-0. (Bobby Erbakan went 3 for 5 with a pair of doubles (7) to pace the offense from the leadoff slot.)
Abel Pennington pitched a solid 7 1/3rd in game 2, allowing 2 runs on just 3 hits while striking out 7 and walking 2 and the Brewers won 6-2. The Brewers scored all 6 runs in the first inning when they got to Lords' ace Jose Santos (7-6, 2.69) before he had a chance to settle into a groove. The Brewers had 4 hits in the inning but hit for the cycle as Ruben Souffront singled, Jared Stephenson doubled (5), Ryan Rodgers tripled (4), and Kevin Curtis homered (4).
In the final game before the All-Star break, young reliever Jaden Francis got a rare start (he was originally drafted as a starting pitcher, but while he has the stamina for the role he never developed the third pitch- in this case a change-up- to be effective as a starter), and did well enough to keep the game close and eventually the Brewers overcame an early 3-0 deficit to win 4-3. Francis did not get a decision in the game, working 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits. Miguel Solis earned the win (4-2, 1.48) while Eric Singer came on to get the save, his 6th (2.31 ERA.) While the Brewers only managed 4 hits they were efficient on offense, drew 6 walks, and combined 3 of the hits in the 3-run 6th inning, along with a sacrifice fly, a run scoring fielders choice, and all of it got started when Pat Rondeau reached on an error to lead off the inning. They would score the winning run in the 8th inning without the benefit of a hit. A pair of walks to open the frame followed by a ground out to first that moved the runners into scoring position, and, after Chad Brown was intentionally walked to load the bases, an Oscar Vargas sacrifice fly to deep right-center, were all it took. The exceptional bullpen took over from there and the streak stays alive.
While the Brewers don't gain a lot of ground, still trailing Phoenix by 6 1/2 and San Francisco by 2 games, they do at least stay in striking distance and put some distance between themselves and the teams immediately behind them in the standings. (Baltimore and Oklahoma City are tied for 4th place with .500 records, 12 1/2 games off the pace.)
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