[BirdWatcher]

And once again, coming off a successful series against first place Phoenix, the Brewers stumble against the 5th place Detroit Falcons.

In game 1 of a 3-game series at Falcons Ballpark, Brewers captain Abel Pennington gets knocked around for 7 runs (6 earned) over 5 innings pitched. Pennington struck out 4 while walking 3. Reliever Josh Morrow didn't fare much better, giving 3 more runs in 3 innings pitched. The Brewers drop the game 10-3. Pennington drops to 7-9 with a 4.04 ERA. There was one offensive highlight for the Brewers as Tanner Yurek (.293/.383/.526), who continues his great 1970 season, hit 3 doubles to get his season total up to 24.

Game 2 wasn't quite as humiliating, but it still resulted in a Brewers loss. And in some ways it was even more frustrating, as Will Smart again pitched a great game- working 7 innings, giving up just 1 run on 7 hits with a pair of strikeouts and no walks allowed- but the offense staying mostly silent. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th, when Brewers reliever Liann-wei Hua had an uncharacteristically bad appearance, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits while only recording one out in the 8th inning. That was enough for Detroit as they won 3-2. Smart's ERA improves to 1.36 while Hua gets the loss and drops to 3-5 with a 1.71 ERA. The Brewers managed only 2 hits in the game against 22-year old Eduardo Saucedo, who isn't considered a great talent but has had a very fine season as he improves to 13-3 with a 3.22 ERA, and reliever Andrew Brandon. One of the Brewers hits was a rare HR by defensive specialist Oscar Vargas (.197/.272/.303), his 4th of the season.

The Brewers did at least avoid getting swept, as rookie Steve Green, in his very first start, in fact his very first WPK appearance, threw 8 great innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits in 8 innings pitched, striking out 5 while walking none. A very impressive beginning to a potentially promising career. The Brewers won 4-1. Eric Singer pitched a perfect 9th inning to pick up save number 15 (2.00 ERA). Pat Rondeau (.290/.333/.389) had a nice game as he went 2 for 4 and hit his 2nd HR of the season. (Steve Green also collected a hit in the game and scored a run. Like two other young Brewers pitchers- Harry Lyerly and Adam Getchell- Green is better with the bat then the average pitcher.)

Fortunately for the Brewers, the Speed Devils dropped 2 of 3 to Brooklyn in Phoenix and Denver remains just 1 1/2 game behind the front-runners.

One bit of bad news though- Antonio Puente suffered a knee contusion in the last game of the series and is expected to be hobbled for about a week or two. To be on the safe side, and with a deep outfield, the team placed Puente on the 10-day DL. Still, it is a bad time to be without the team's best power hitter and one of the best OBP guys and fielders on the team.