[BirdWatcher]

Next on the schedule for the Brewers was a 4-game series against the Oklahoma City Diamond Kings at Brewers Field.

In game 1, ace Cheol-han Lee wasn't at his best and the offense didn't give him much support as the Brewers lost 4-3. Lee gave up 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 6 and walking 4 in just 6 1/3rds innings pitched. He did not figure in the decision as the game went into the 9th tied at 3-3. Liann-wei Hua pitched 2 innings and gave up a run in the top of the 9th, a 2-out solo HR by Cesar Grajeda, which proved to the be the game winner. Hua falls to 3-4 with a 1.63 ERA.

Game 2 saw young Adam Getchell once again try to make a case for inclusion in the rotation in 1971 and mostly succeed. He pitched very well for the first 6 innings but did give up 3 runs in the 7th. Fortunately, the team provided him with good run support early and the Brewers were able to hold on for an 8-4 victory. Getchell improved to 6-1 with a 1.82 ERA. He allowed the 4 runs on 7 hits in 7 2/3rds IP, striking out 4 and walking 4. Chad Brown (.262/.291/.346), who has been heating up lately, had a good game, going 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI and hit his 18th double of the season. Andrew Kennedy (.325/.353/.463), who has earned and has been getting much more playing time, went 1 for 3 with 1 run scored, 3 RBI, 1 walk and hit his 17th double of the season (in just 291 plate appearances.)

Game 3- Harry Lyerly. Need I say more. Okay, I will. Actually, Lyerly wasn't even at his sharpest in this game. He gave up 8 hits in 7 1/3rd innings. He allowed 2 runs- although, to be fair, one was unearned. (The middle infield behind him was sloppy in this game- secondbaseman Juan Lujan committing 2 errors and shortstop Chad Brown 1.) Then again, Lyerly didn't walk a single batter (he did put one on with a HBP). And he struck out 11. And, once again, he didn't give up any HR's- his supposed fatal flaw. In fact, only 1 of the hits against him went for extra bases- a 3rd inning double by the Diamond Kings best hitter, Cesar Grajeda. Lyerly also walked once himself and drove in a run in the 5-run Brewers 2nd inning with a sacrifice fly. Brewers win 5-2. Lyerly improves to 15-6 with a 2.72 ERA.
Fun fact: even though the Brewers have been a very good pitching team most of their short history, with his 15th victory of the season here in late August, Lyerly has now set the team record for pitching wins in a single season. That's right- 4 Brewers pitchers have collected 14 wins in a season but until now that was the team single-season high. Above I called Cheol-han Lee the ace of the staff. And in some ways, that is probably true. But increasingly a pretty good argument could be made that 22 year old Harry Lyerly is rapidly becoming the true team ace.

Game 4 was wiped out by rain and will have to be made up later in the season.

The Brewers next take on 1st place Phoenix in Denver. Not wanting to overstate, especially with roughly a month left in the season, but this is a HUGE series. The Speed Devils have continued to play well lately and while the Brewers have hung tight- trailing Phoenix by 4 1/2 games going into this series- this is a great opportunity for the Brewers to gain ground and make a statement. Or, alternatively, fall farther behind. It should be interesting. With any luck, it will also be fun.