The Brewers head to Community Stadium in Baltimore for 3 games in 2 days against the 4th place Lords.
In the opening game of the Sunday double-header, Harry Lyerly gets the start and the win. Lyerly may not be the strikeout machine he was in his earlier days, but at age 25 he continues to be a solid producer in the middle of the Brewers rotation. In this game he worked 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits, striking out 4 and walking 1. He got plenty of run support in the 8-3 win and improves now to 7-4 on the season with a 3.30 ERA. The normally power impaired Brewers slugged 3 HR's in the game. Bobby Erbakan (.360/.424/.508) hit his 7th HR of the year in the 9th inning to break things open for the Brewers. Rookie Josh Schaeffer, continuing his impressive season, hit his 4th HR and went 2 for 5 in the game. And Pat Rondeau (.379/.398/.497), not known for his over the wall power, picked up his 1st HR of the season and went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored in the game, also stealing his 16th base.
In the nightcap, starting pitcher Steve Green displayed again why he is the weakest link in the Brewers rotation. Green allowed 6 runs on 7 hits- walking 3 and striking out 2- in just 4 2/3rds innings pitched. He also gave up his team worst 14th HR of the season. The Brewers lost 7-3 and Green's record falls to 6-7 with 4.63 ERA. But nobody can accuse Josh Schaeffer (.331/.416/.528) of not doing his part to try to get a W- he went 1 for 3, hitting his 5th HR, scoring twice and driving in 2 runs, and drawing one walk.
Behind another good start from team captain Matt Helm, some excellent relief work by Jordan Stephens, and the ever-potent bat of Pat Rondeau, the Brewers won the rubber match 5-2 and take the series. Helm worked 7 innings and although he had to work out of trouble often, giving up 10 hits and walking 2 batters, he held the Lords to just 2 runs. With the win Helm improves to 6-4 with a 3.23 ERA. Helm also hit his 1st HR of the season, a 2-run shot following a Kevin Curtis double in the 2nd inning. Jordan Stephens pitched the last 2 innings to get his 6th save in as many tries, striking out 3, and his ERA improves to 2.40. Pat Rondeau (.381/.401/.497) went 2 for 4 in the game and drove in 3 runs. Jonathan Koch (.319/.339/.457) was 2 for 5 and hit his 20th double of the season.
With the series win the Brewers are now leading the 2nd place Brooklyn Aces by 2 1/2 games and the 3rd place Phoenix Speed Devils, who the Brewers now host for a 2-game series, by 4 games.