Brewers Head Down the Stretch

Bob Uecker's home run call lights up
when the Brew Crew goes deep.
9/2/2019 dwm photo

Monday was my fifth game at Miller Park this season as the Brewers faced off with the Houston Astros.  It was a game they needed to stay even in the hunt for the postseason.  They lost, 3 - 2 in ten innings, which gave me a 4 - 1 record this season.

It was a tight game.  The Brewers took the lead in the first inning on a hit high over the left field fence by Yasmani Grandal.  Houston evened the score in the third, before taking the lead in the sixth.

Most Valuable Brewer, Christian Yelich tied it in the bottom of the 9th with a monster shot over the center field wall.  Houston scored in the 10th.  Trailing by one in their final at-bat, Yelich came to the plate with the tying and winning runs on base.  He struck out watching a ball sail past his eyes that was astonishingly called strike three.  Ugh.

Just those details leave out the Brewers left the bases loaded in the 6th with nobody scoring.  After tying the game in the 9th, Milwaukee had the winning run on base, and that's where he stayed.  So close, yet so far.

Yasmani Grandal runs home in the 1st inning.
9/2/2019 dwm photo

There is no doubt in my mind this is a good Milwaukee team.  Despite leaving too many men on base in scoring situations and the injured starting rotation, the Crew is on the fringe of the play-offs with three weeks to play.

Of course, effort and good intentions don't put runs on the scoreboard.

The missing piece is a winning streak.  Even this late in the season, if they could win 10 or 12 in a row, it would build momentum and morale.

Brent Suter returned to the mound for the first time after
Tommy John surgery last summer.  9/2/19 (dwm)

The next four games will probably render a verdict on this year's season as the Chicago Cubs invade Miller Park.  If they find a way to win 3 or 4 - they have a chance.

A nice moment Monday was when Brewer pitcher Brent Suter entered a tied game in the 6th.  It was first time pitching in the Majors since July last year when he left with a sore ligament.  He had Tommy John surgery to fix it a few weeks later.

His return is more than a moral victory - it is a win for Suter, the team, and fans.

I'm hoping Milwaukee gets more than moral victories down the stretch. To borrow a phrase from a friend... it's time for them to "tap the keg" with a bunch of wins on the scoreboard and in the standings.  This is no time to lose - LET'S GO BREWERS!