An Immaculate Inning and Big Win

Josh Hader runs in from the bullpen
to work the 9th inning.
3/30/2019 dwm photo

As the saying goes, "anytime you go to a baseball game, there is a chance you'll see something you've never seen before."

Saturday evening, I saw an Immaculate Inning.  It's simple - 3 consecutive strike-outs using just 9 pitches.

Ask a Brewer fan which pitcher is the most likely to perform such a feat, the answer is Josh Hader.  Josh is hard-throwing young player who made the All-Star Game last year in his first Major League season.

It appears he still has heat on his fastball.

We sat behind home plate twenty rows up.  We saw the flailing swings and heard the pop of the ball in the catcher's mitt.

Cardinal center fielder Tyler O'Neill was first.  He managed to foul off the first pitch for a strike.  Give him credit, nobody else touched the ball.  Dexter Fowler was next and pinch-hitter Yario Munez was third - "Good morning, good afternoon, and good night!"

Milwaukee plays St. Louis 19 times this season.  Ten times in the first month (OK, the season started March 28, so the first month is March and April) and it was important to get off to a good start.  I was there for game three.  Milwaukee won 3 of 4.

Yelich circles the bases after his 396 foot
home run.     3/30/2019 dwm photo

Most Valuable Player Christian Yelich is off to a good start.  After earning MVP last year, he isn't sneaking up on anyone now.  However, it seems he is just that good.  Yelich drove a ball out of the park in the first inning - the third straight game he hit a home run (he did it again on Sunday).

Joining Yelich on the home run parade - Travis Shaw, Ryan Braun, and Jhoulys Chacin (a pitcher!) each have 1.  Mike Moustakas has 2.

Brandon Woodruff picked up the win.
3/30/2019  (dwm)

It's a very good start to a 162 game journey which Brew Crew nation hopes leads back to the playoffs with a slightly better finish this time.

Looking around the stadium Saturday night - I felt the crowd's energy, excitement, and dreams - invested in the Crew.

Travis Shaw hit one out. 3/30/19 (dwm)

You can expect adversity.  Baseball is a sport based on failure.  After all, the best hitters are only successful three out of every ten times.  Success comes in handling wins and losses and moving to the next game.

As a fan, I get the luxury of looking at a bigger picture.  The Brewers are in Cincinnati for a three game series - then finish the season's second week at home facing the Cubs.

The Racing Sausages - (L to R): Chorizo, Polish, Hot Dog,
Brat, and Italian.  The Hot Dog won Saturday night.
3/30/2019 dwm photo

It will be interesting to see how they do against two other teams in the National League Central; to repeat as division champs it helps to have a better record.

There are three young pitchers in the rotation (Woodruff, Burnes, and Peralta) that need to settle into their roles.  Brandon Woodruff got off to a good start with a win Saturday.  Burnes first game was solid.  Peralta showed some grit in battling back after tough first inning - I think he will be OK.

After so much fun in my first game, I can't wait to get back to the Ballgame - again.