[BirdWatcher]

Brewers record: 5-2 (week), 92-54, 2nd place, MGL, 1 1/2 gb (season).

September 14-15, at San Francisco: 5-1, 4-5.

The Brewers gain at least a series victory against the Velocity when they rode the right arm of Steve Green (that time travelling wonder) to an easy win. Green (13-5, 3.31) gave up just a single run on 4 hits over his 7 2/3rds innings, striking out 8 while walking 3. Jeremy Walker (4.82) pitched the final 1 and a third for his 7th save of the season. Youngsters Jorge Gonzalez and Brett Taranto led the way offensively. Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored in the game and Taranto was also 2 for 4 and drove in 2 runs.

The Velocity avoided being swept by the Brewers at home in the final game of the series, taking an early lead and then giving up 4 runs to the visitors in the 7th inning before holding on for the one-run win. Erik Sloan (8-7, 3.53), going through a rough patch here late in the season, gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits in 5 2/3rd innings. Zacarias Martell went 2 for 4 and hit his 8th HR of the season in the loss.

September 16-18, versus Portland: 2-3, 11-8, 5-4.

The Brewers return home to take on the 9th place Wild Things and dropped a low-scoring close game in the series opener. Tough luck for Sekien Hamasaki, who is looking to earn a spot in the rotation in 1976. Hamasaki gave up 2 runs on just 3 hits with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk in 7 innings pitched but got a no-decision. It was probably his most impressive start of 1975. Tim Shore (2-4, 3.90) took the loss in relief. Zacarias Martell homered again, his 9th.

Game two was a slug-fest that went into extra innings tied at 8 runs apiece. In the bottom of the 10th, Bobby Erbakan came up with two runners on and two outs and hit his 14th home run of the season to give the Brewers the walk-off win. He was 2 for 5 in the game with 5 RBI. Joe McPhillips hit his 21st double and 23rd HR in the win and he also threw out a runner at third base. And Andrew Kennedy hit his 3rd HR of 1975 and drove in 3 runs.

Bobby Erbakan stays hot, going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and hitting his 15th HR of the season as the Brewers win again and take another series. He also stole his 18th base. Matty Helm had to leave the game early, after recording the final out of the 2nd inning. (Fortunately it turned out to just be a minor sore back issue that won't cost him his next start.) Fortunately, while the 'pen wasn't great after he left, they didn't fall apart either and Ben Flynn (4-1, 4.83) earned the win while Jeremy Walker got his 8th save.

September 19-20, at Charlotte: 5-3, 13-1.

Travelling to Charlotte to take on the last place Sting, the Brewers get off to a good start in game 1 when the mystifying Harry Lyerly once again pitches a strong game. Lyerly (11-6, 3.33) lasted 7 1/3rd innings, giving up 3 runs (only 1 earned) on 4 hits and 3 walks. Tim Shore pitched the final inning and two thirds for his 12th save. Zacarias Martell went 3 for 4 in the win. Joe McPhillips hit his 24th homer. And RodRod committed his 30th error, stole his 7th base and was caught stealing for the 7th time, started one of the three double plays the Brewers infield completed, and collected one hit and one walk. How do you solve a problem like a RodRod?

In game 2 of the series, the final game of the week, the Brewers won in a laugher. Cheol-han Lee carried a shutout with two outs in the 9th inning before he finally surrendered the one Sting run of the day. Cheol-han (15-5, 3.28), worked the complete game, allowing just 4 hits. Josh Schaeffer went 2 for 4 in the game with 3 runs scored, and got the scoring started with a lead-off HR, his 17th long ball, to start the game. RodRod went 3 for 6, drove in 3 runs, and committed two errors to get to 32 on the season. Because, well, that's RodRod. Brett Taranto went 3 for 4 with a run and 2 RBI and hit his 2nd double. And even Cheol-han, not known as a great hitting pitcher by any means, went 2 for 5 with 2 RBI.

Notes from around the league: The Boston Berserkers (90-56)are hot and have closed the gap to 5 1/2 games in their quest to catch the Columbus Whalers (95-50). But it's probably a bit too little too late. The Philadelphia Mud Hens and Jacksonville Wolf Pack are the only other SJL teams to not be mathematically eliminated yet. But they will be soon.
The Brewers have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games. That's the good news. The bad news? So have the L.A. Spinners. The Brewers big win yesterday, on a day off for L.A.,got us to within 1 1/2 games of the leaders. The third place Brooklyn Aces fall to 9 1/2 games back and the fourth place Baltimore Lords are 16 games out. Again, they are not mathematically eliminated yet. But soon.