Brewers record: 2-4 (week), 25-13, 1st place, MGL (season)
May 14, at Brooklyn:
4-5.
May 15-17, at Los Angeles:
3-8,
0-2,
8-4.
May 19-20, versus Phoenix:
13-1,
0-1.
The Brooklyn Aces defeat the Brewers on Sunday to avoid being swept. They did so in spite of the Brewers coming from behind by scoring four 9th inning runs to erase a 4-0 deficit. The Aces won the game in walk-off fashion when rookie first baseman Owen Zwiebel (a defensive liability but a tremendous hitting prospect) hit a two-out, pinch-hit run scoring single off Brewers reliever
Ben Flynn (0-1, 6.38).
Steve Green had a rare strong start as he allowed just 2 runs on 9 hits over 6 innings pitched. The Brewers had tied the game on a
Josh Schaeffer Grand Slam, his 4th homer of the year.
In a quirk of scheduling the Brewers then had to fly clear across the continent to play the Spinners in Los Angeles the next day and perhaps unsurprisingly dropped game 1.
John Weaver (2-1, 5.00) was pitching pretty well before running into trouble in the 5th inning when the Spinners plated 5 runs.
Weaver gave up 8 runs (only 4 earned) on 8 hits over 5 2/3rds innings.
Val Guzman went 2 for 3 in the loss, drawing a walk and hitting his 9th double of 1978 while also stealing 2 bases to get to 6.
The Brewers get shut out in game 2 by the talented 1976 Pitcher of the Year Eduardo Obando. Rookie
Jim Atwell (5-2, 3.38) deserved a better fate as he went the distance allowing just 2 runs on 9 hits in the loss.
Zacarias Martell collected 2 of the Brewers 4 hits in the game, none of which went for extra bases.
The Brewers avoid the sweep behind staff ace
Sadahige Kawasaki (4-2, 2.73) who worked 8 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, striking out 7 and walking none.
Val Guzman, who had been mired in a slump for some time, had another strong game, going 3 for 5 with a run scored and two driven in and hit his team-best 10th double.
Brett Taranto went 3 for 5 and has regained the MGL batting average lead at .361. And little
Joe Willemse also went 3 for 5, driving in 3 runs and picking up his first stolen base of the season.
After a day off, the Brewers played host to the slugging, and thus far surprising, Phoenix Speed Devils and in game 1 the Brewers crushed the visitors.
Sekien Hamasaki (7-0, 2.12) certainly didn't need all the run support he got in this one, as he gave up just 1 run on 8 hits over his 7 innings pitched while striking out 10 batters. But run support he did get. Actually, he gave himself some of it with a 3 for 4, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI game. The increasingly benched
RodRod did have a great game in this one, going 3 for 5 with a run scored and two driven in and hit his 1st triple of the season.
Brett Taranto stays hot, going 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI and hitting his 4th double.
Rich White hit his 2nd home run of the season.
But in game 2 the Brewers were again shut out for the second time in four games, this time by Phoenix left-handed starter Chris Palmisano who held the home club to just 4 hits and walk while striking out 6. Another tough loss for
Steve Green (1-5, 6.04) who certainly pitched well enough to get a victory- he scattered 8 hits over 7 innings, giving up just 1 run.
Brett Taranto's 5th double of the season was the only extra base hit for Denver.
Nick Ward, who has an anemic .194 batting average, did collect 2 hits in 3 at-bats in the loss.
With the Brewers having several right-handed batters who aren't producing-
Jon Williams (.204/.271/.407),
John Flores (.255/.327/.489),
Nick Ward (.194/.307/.258)- and with
Bobby Erbakan still needing some rehab time, left-handed starting pitchers are a problem in spite of right-handed hitters
Brett Taranto and
Rich White both off to good starts. Knowing that switch-hitter
Jake DiCesare, who punishes southpaws, won't be back until at least late June at the earliest and with continuing frustrations over
RodRod's poor defense and under-performing bat (.259/.286/.318), and given that he has been hot again down at AAA Chester, the Brewers decided not to wait any longer to give third base prospect
Jose Figueroa his debut and announced after the game on Saturday that they were calling him up to the bigs and sending slugging back-up first baseman
Sean Wright back to Chester. The move likely speeds up the departure of
RodRod, who rumor has it might be packaged with
Flores (who was not expected to return for 1979) with the Brewers reportedly looking for a right-handed left-fielder who is cheaper than
Flores and provides a bit more defensive value to platoon with
Val Guzman for the time being.
