The Scouting Report:
Game 1:
The Brewers gave starter
Jim Atwell plenty of run support in the series opener, and
Atwell did his part as well, going 8 innings while allowing 3 runs on just 5 hits, striking out 8 and walking 1, in spite of a shaky first few innings.
Atwell (.309/.300/.368) also went 1 for 2 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI and a pair of successful sacrifice bunts.
Bobby Erbakan's (.310/.358/.499) strong second half continues, as he goes 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI and steals 2 bases to get to 5 on the season.
Brett Taranto (.322/.352/.437) has not had a great second half, but he did contribute in this one, going 3 for 6 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI and he hit his 9th home run.
Eric Hammock (.352/.395/.577) was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI and he hit his 4th home run of the season in a Brewers uniform (he also has 23 bombs with AAA Chester this year). And
Antonio Acuna (.367/.424/.605) only collected one hit but he also walked twice and stole 2 bases to get to 22 on the season.
Game 2:
In game 2, the Brewers fought back from an early deficit to force extra innings, only to see veteran reliever
Javy Bermudez allow 2 runs on 2 hits in the 10th inning, including a home run by Detroit's superstar center fielder John Hemmah- the main contender for the MGL MVP award who isn't a member of the Denver outfield-and then they weren't able to battle back a second time.
Steve Green pitched 7 2/3rds innings giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits while striking out 8 and walking none.
Antonio Acuna (.373/.428/.619) had been in a mini-slump but he went 4 for 5 in this one and hit his 21st homer and 16th double, driving in a pair of runs and swiping his 23rd base. And
Brett Taranto's (.325/.354/.438) bat continued to show some signs of heating up as he was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI.
Game 3:
Things looked a bit grim early on for the Brewers when starter
Erik Sloan had to exit the game having thrown only 1 pitch (which was hit to Joe McPhillips in center for the first out). It was later revealed that the veteran lefty was suffering from a mild abdominal strain and he is already recovered. With the bullpen a bit depleted due to
Ben Flynn still serving his suspension and the always challenging former Brewer Hector Hard on the mound for the Falcons, some thought this was perhaps a game for the Brewers just to endure and write off. As it turned out, the bullpen was spectacular, even with the pressure of a very close game until late, when the Denver offense finally chipped away enough to give the pitchers a little breathing room.
Adam Buhman, a veteran former starting pitcher, took the ball from
Sloan and worked a gutsy 3 innings, followed by
Javy Bermudez, coming off a disastrous 10th inning the night before. This time
Bermudez was flawless over 2 2/3rds. And finally young lefty
Rand Pinti, just recently recalled from AAA Chester (with
Brandon Veach sent back to Chester) carried the shutout for 3 more innings to earn a save.
Brett Taranto (.328/.356/.440) capped off a terrific series with a 3 for 5 day, scoring one run and driving in another.
Brett was 9 for 16 against Detroit pitching in the three games.
Antonio Acuna (.374/.430/.620) was 2 for 4 in this one, hitting his 17th double.
Notes from around the league:
With the calendar turning to September in just a few days, this seems like a good time to talk about the potential SJL hitting Triple Crown race that is being waged between 3-time MVP Bud Lindsay of San Antonio and former Brewer Mike Lovett of Philadelphia. Lindsay currently leads the SJL in batting average at .390 with Lovett second with a .384 BA. Lindsay also leads in home runs at 32. Lovett is second with 29. And Lovett has 120 RBI to lead all of the WPK in that category. Lindsay is next with 117.
As far as the MVP race though, with his sterling defense at shortstop and his great skills on the bath paths, Lindsay is once again the frontrunner. If he does win it again it will be the 4th straight year of getting this honor for the almost sure future Hall of Fame player.
With team captain Bud Lindsay leading the way the San Antonio Keys now lead the SJL by 5 games over Columbus (84-44) with an 89-39 WPK best record. Philly is hanging in there in 3rd place at 78-50, but still trail by 11 games as we approach the final month of the regular season. Boston has been playing well, but at 73-56 and trailing the Keys by 16 1/2 games it is probably too late for them to be thinking about a serious challenge. Meanwhile, the Seattle Alligators and the Washington Night Train have joined Houston and Chicago on the official also-rans list in the SJL.
Over in the MGL, the Brewers have a 14 game lead over L.A. (73-56), and lead Detroit by 16 now after their series win against the 71-58 Falcons. Brooklyn (70-59) remains in 4th place, 17 games out. Oklahoma City and Phoenix, each with a 52-77 record, are the first teams to be mathematically eliminated in the MGL this season.