The Brewers return to Denver for their last home stand of the year, starting with 3 games against the Phoenix Speed Devils.
Game 1 sees Cheol-han Lee return to form after two consecutive sub-par outings. Lee picks up his league leading 6th shutout as the Brewers prevail 7-0. In getting the complete game shutout Lee allowed just 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 9. He improves to 18-7 with a league best 2.70 ERA.
Among the many offensive stars in the game for Denver are the two Joe's- Willemse and McPhillips. Joe Willemse (.333/.314/.364), making a strong case for inclusion on the 25-man roster in 1974, went 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored. Willemse is also already displaying his great glove work. Joe McPhillips (.289/.394/.484) went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and looks like a future gold glover in center field. Another young player who continues to build a case for being a member of the team next season is 24-year old first baseman Greg Tietz. Tietz (.375/.423/.597), who was so impressive earlier in the season in a stint with the Brewers, just keeps raking since being brought back up on September 1st, and went 3 for 5, hitting his 1st double of the season.
Game 2 was more of the same, as the Brewers scored 5 times in the 1st, 3 more times in the 3rd, and 4 more in the 5th, en route to a 12-3, well, rout. It was a better start by Matt Helm, as he lasted 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 7 and walking 3. Helm improves to 7-9 with a 4.34 ERA. Andrew Kennedy (.354/.395/.463) was one of the hitting stars, as he had 3 hits in 4 at-bats, scoring twice and driving in 3 runs. Kevin Curtis (.226/.347/.318) had a good game, hitting his 10th double and driving in 3 runs.
Game 3 was something else entirely. Crazy is mostly what it was. First, after his impressive 13 K outing last start, Harry Lyerly had his worst start of the season, giving up 6 runs on 5 hits (including 2 HR's, 1 of them a Grand Slam) and 2 walks with no strikeouts in just 1 2/3rds innings pitched. Second, after finding themselves down 6-1 heading into the bottom of the 7th inning, the Brewers plated 6 runs to take a 7-6 lead, with the big blow being a Joe McPhillips 2-out Grand Slam. It was the 2nd of 3 Grand Slams in the game. And the 3rd one was hit by Phoenix again, this time off Jaden Francis in a disastrous 8th inning where he gave up 5 runs while only recording a single out. Francis took the loss to fall to 3-4 with a 3.20 ERA. (Lyerly's ERA went up to 3.05.) Trailing 11-7 heading into the bottom of the 9th, the Brewers staged one last comeback attempt and did in fact score 3 runs to get to within 1 of the Speed Devils but leave the bases loaded when Jordan Stephens grounded out into a fielder's choice to end the game. Phoenix wins 11-10.
Let's give some more love to Joe Willemse (.368/.350/.395) who went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored in the game. And Joe McPhillips (.294/.394/.503) who was 2 for 4 with 5 RBI. And on the subject of young players starting to make names for themselves on the Brewers roster: Josh Schaeffer (.327/.418/.480) was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, 1 driven in, 1 walk, and hit his 14th double of the season. Though he also committed his 9th error in right field. He has good range and a great arm but he is error prone.
With the series win the Brewers are just 1 1/2 games off the lead, which is now held by the L.A. Spinners as the Brooklyn Aces have lost 3 in a row and are just 1 game ahead of the Brewers.