[BirdWatcher]

The Brewers split a 2-game series versus Oklahoma City at home, losing the first game 6-4 and taking the second 2-1.
In the first game lefty starter Daniel Torres struggled with his control (his primary weakness) as he walked 6 batters in just 5 innings pitched, giving up 6 runs (4 earned) and 7 hits while striking out 4. The bullpen pitched well over the course of the final 4 innings, but the damage had been done and the Brewers fell short in their comeback attempt.
Behind an excellent start by the Captain, Abel Pennington, the Brewers were able to get a narrow victory in game 2. Pennington worked 7 innings of 5 hit, 1 run ball, striking out 7 and walking just 2. Although he did not get the decision he did improve his ERA to 3.99. Bobby Erbakan (.256/.316/.345) who has been starting to heat up of late helped pace the offense with a 2 for 3, 1 RBI game.

The Brewers then traveled to Charlotte to take on the 8th place Sting. The Sting handed the Brewers an embarrassing 9-1 loss in game 1, as Mike (don't call me John) Hiatt- who threw a no-hitter earlier this season- pitched an effective if wild 7 1/3rd innings, holding the Brewers to 1 run on only 2 hits while walking 7 and striking out 5. The Brewers would manage 1 more hit off the bullpen but that was it. Meanwhile, Will Smart pitched a mediocre 5 1/3rd, allowing 4 runs on only 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2. Josh Morrow later allowed 5 runs on 5 hits in 1 2/3rds innings pitched.
The Brewers got some revenge in game 2, beating the Sting 8-2. Staff ace Cheol-han Lee was sharp, going the distance and allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk. Lee improves to 10-4 with a 2.68 ERA. Antonio Puente (.253/.367/.507), playing in just his 3rd game since returning from the DL due to a broken jaw suffered while being hit by a pitch on June 24th, hit his 16th homer of the season and Jared Stephenson (.230/.252/.359) hit HR #13.
In the rubber match, Harry Lyerly wasn't nearly as sharp as he was in his previous start, but he was good enough to earn his 13th victory of the year (and, once again, Player of the Game honors.) Lyerly lasted 6 1/3rd, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 and walking 4. Only one of the six hits was for extra bases- a 1st inning double. The offense scored just enough for the win, led by Jared Stephenson who went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and hit HR #14 for the 1970 season. Eric Singer worked the final 2 innings for his 10th save (2.23 ERA.)

While the Brewers end the week still in 3rd place, both they and the red-hot San Francisco Velocity have closed some ground on the currently flat Phoenix Speed Devils. San Francisco trails Phoenix by 5 games and the Brewers are just a 1/2 game behind San Fran.