The Brewers conclude the month of June and begin the month of July with 3 games at home versus the reigning MGL champions, the Charlotte Sting. The Sting enter the series 3 games under .500 and in 7th place.
In game 1, the Brewers win a back-and-forth game, prevailing 8-7, having scored twice in the bottom of the 7th to take the lead and then getting good work from the 'pen to hold it. Bobby Erbakan (.368/.426/.509) got the big hit in the 7th and went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI in the game and hit his 11th double of the season. Harry Lyerly got the start for the Brewers and didn't fare well- giving up 7 runs (6 earned) on 7 hits in his 6 2/3rds innings pitched and did not get a decision in the game. Liann-wei Hua, Jaden Francis, and Jordan Stephens combined to get and secure the win. Hua was credited with the win, improving to 1-2 with 3.38 ERA. Stephens got the save, his 4th, and his ERA improved to 2.96. The Brewers hit 4 doubles, including 1 by Harry Lyerly (2nd of the season), 1 by Pat Rondeau, (his 15th) who went 3 for 5 in the game, and 1 by Mike Foster (his 6th.)
The Brewers tried to fight back from a 5-0 deficit in the middle game of the series, but fell short and lost 5-3. Eric Johnson took the loss, giving up 5 runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3rd innings pitched. Johnson falls to 5-2 and sees his ERA rise to 4.26. John Flores (.254/.338/.380) was the offensive star for the Brewers in the loss, going 2 for 4, driving in all 3 runs with his 8th inning bases-loaded, 2-out, double (3).
The month of July begins with a heart-breaking extra innings loss for the Brewers. The Brewers scored single runs in the the 1st and 2nd innings, and the Sting responded with the same in the 3rd and 4th. And then the bats fell silent for both teams, leaving them tied 2-2 at the end of the regulation 9 innings. Erik Sloan gave the Brewers a good start, working 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks. Jordan Stephens had a tough 10th inning, giving up 1 run on 3 hits, though also striking out 2 batters and issuing no walks. He takes the loss, dropping to 2-3 with a 3.20 ERA. Veteran third baseman Billy Turner (.309/.364/.494) was the best hitter for the Brewers in the game, going 2 for 4 and hitting his 2nd HR of the season. Pat Rondeau (.376/.391/.469) only went 1 for 5 but he stole two bases (consecutively, second followed by third, to get to 13 SB's for the season) and threw out a runner at third base. Rondeau also threw out a runner at 3rd in the 1st game of the series and now has 9 outfield assists between center field and right field this season.
