In game 1 of a little 2-game series at home against the 1st place Brooklyn Aces to start August, the Brewers once again snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. Having led 4-1 through 7 innings, the Brewers allowed 2 runs to the Aces in the 8th to make things uncomfortable and then 3 more in the 9th to make things just downright depressing. Steve Green for once deserved better than he got as he allowed just 1 run on 9 hits over 7 innings pitched. The two Brewers relievers who have been most consistently good this year- and the Brewers bullpen was ranked 1st in the league in ERA coming into this series- Jordan Stephens and Jaden Francis combined to allow 5 runs on 7 hits in 2 innings. Francis took the loss and falls to 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA. Josh Schaeffer (.329/.423/.506) went 2 for 4 in the game and drew another walk but also committed his 4th error of the season.
In the second game the Brewers gave up 3 runs in the 1st to the Aces and it was beginning to look like the Brewers were simply outmatched by the Brooklyn club. But then they scored 4 in the bottom of the inning and made a game of it. Although the Aces would manage to tie it at 6 apiece in the top of the 7th the Brewers bounced back with 2 of their own in the bottom of the frame and somehow, though not without some white knuckle moments, held on to claim an 8-6 victory and a series split. Basically Andrew Kennedy and Justin Bismark saved the Brewers bacon in this one. Kennedy (.336/.381/.460) went 3 for 4 in the game, hitting his 5th HR in the 1st inning but it was his 26th double of the season in the 7th inning that finally gave the Brewers the lead for good. And after Sam Pruiett blew the lead by giving up 2 runs on 3 hits in his inning pitched (in relief of starter Matt Helm) and Liann-wei Hua put the lead in jeopardy in the 8th inning when he gave up a pair of 1-out singles, Bismark entered the game and got a big strikeout followed by a harmless fly ball out to end the inning and the threat. He then also worked the 9th inning, giving up a single and throwing a wild pitch, but getting a huge strikeout of the most dangerous Brooklyn power hitter, Danny Salvador and then another harmless fly ball out off the bat of also dangerous Adam Pester to end the game and preserve the victory. Bismark gets his 1st save of the season and now has an ERA of 0.98. Jonathan Koch (.318/.339/.476) hit his team-leading 12th home run, a 3-run shot in the 1st inning.
With the split the Brewers remain 1 game behind Brooklyn with the L.A. Spinners in 3rd place at 2 1/2 games out.