[BirdWatcher]

Brewers record: 5-2 (week), 13-6, 1st place, MGL (season)

April 23-25, versus Charlotte: 13-7, 7-5, 1-7.

April 26-28, at Detroit: 4-3, 7-1, 3-5.

April 29, at Portland: 7-4.

The Brewers host the Charlotte Sting to begin the third week of the sesason.
And in game 1, the offense explodes for 9 runs over the first 3 innings on the way to a rather easy victory. Rich White led the way from the lead-off spot, going 4 for 5 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI, hitting both his 1st double and 1st home run of the season. The Jo(h)n's also had big games, as Jon Williams went 2 for 5 with 3 runs and 3 RBI and hit his 1st homer, and John Flores was 2 for 3 with a run and 3 RBI, and hit his 2nd home run of 1978. Steve Green (1-2, 8.84) once again pitched poorly but this time got a win due to the great run support. Green allowed 7 runs on 11 hits over 7 innings pitched.

Things got a bit tense for the Brewers late in game 2 when the Sting scored five 8th inning runs, but the home club held on for the win. Although he didn't get the decision, John Weaver pitched much better in this one, giving up 2 runs on 9 hits over 7 innings. Javy Bermudez (2-0, 6.23) got the win, though he also blew the save and probably didn't deserve the credit here. Ben Flynn pitched the final inning for his 2nd save. Among the several offensive stars in this one was Joe McPhillips, who went 3 for 4 with a run scored and a walk and hit his 2nd double of the season while picking up his 3rd stolen base. Joe Willemse also had a fine game, picking up 3 hits in 5 at-bats, scoring once and driving in a run and Zacarias Martell went 2 for 4 and drove in 2 runs with his 2nd double of the season.

The Sting get an easy win in the final game of the series to avoid being swept. Much of the credit goes to former Brewer Justin Peacock, who held the Brewers scoreless on just 4 hits in his 6 innings pitched. (Peacock would have pitched longer but had to leave the game early due to chronic back issues, which are expected to sideline him for the next 3 weeks or so.) Jim Atwell (2-1, 4.58) took the loss, giving up 6 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits over 7 2/3rds innings. Rodrigo "RodRod" Rodriguez went 2 for 4 in the loss, hitting his first two doubles of the season.

The Brewers then headed out on a road-trip, starting with 3 games in Detroit against the Falcons.
A two-run 8th inning allowed the Brewers to come from behind in game 1 for the win. Sadahige Kawasaki wasn't at his sharpest, allowing 12 hits in his 6 1/3rd innings, but he did limit Detroit to 3 runs (2 earned) and gave his team a chance to get back in the game. Evan Perez (1-0, 3.18) got the win in relief and Jason Gottula picked up his 1st save of 1978 with 2 wonderful innings. Brett Taranto has cooled off at the plate since his hitting streak came to an end, but his 1 hit in this one was huge, as his 6th home run, a 2-run shot in the 8th inning, provided the margin of victory. Nick Ward went 2 for 3 with a run scored and hit his 2nd double of 1978.

Sekien Hamasaki (3-0, 1.48) has probably been the most impressive starting pitcher for the Brewers this season thus far, and he pitches another gem in game 2. Hamasaki went the distance, allowing just the one run in the 9th inning, while scattering 6 hits, striking out 6 and walking 2. Rich White, who always seems to get off to great starts each season, was 2 for 5 with 1 run scored and 2 RBI's, hitting his 2nd double and picking up his 4th stolen base. More impressively, his stolen base also produced his run, as after doubling in the 2nd inning he advanced to third on a wild pitch and then stole home. Jake DiCesare went 2 for 3 with an RBI and John Flores hit his 3rd homer.

Steve Green's (1-3, 7.82) rough start to 1978 continues in game 3. Green gives up 4 runs on 9 hits over 7 innings in the loss. John Flores went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI and picked up his first stolen base in the loss.

Off to Portland then for 3 against the Wild Things.
And in game 1 the Brewers score a big come-from-behind victory, plating all of their 7 runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. Val Guzman was a big contributor, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and 3 RBI, hitting his 5th double. John Weaver gets a no-decision in a game where he was at times brilliant but got off to a poor start, giving up 3 runs in the 1st inning. Weaver finishes the day with 6 innings pitched, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 and walking just one batter. Victor Colon (1-1, 6.23) got the win and Tim Shore picked up his 4th save in 4 chances this season. Ben Flynn has struggled some on the mound this season, but in this one he found a way to contribute without throwing a single pitch, as his pinch-hit double in the 8th inning drove in 2 insurance runs.