Brewers Bounce Back Slightly, Split Close Series v. Friars

It's been a frustratingly long time since the last time I did a writeup. In all actuality it's been three weeks but a lot of rough series have followed. The Giants, Nationals, Rockies and Reds have all piledrived my team, with the occasional win popping out but no real show of offensive prowess. It's a decent enough team, the rolls just haven't been coming.

Well, this morning at Andy's, they came...to a degree.

Both the Brewers and Padres were looking for a bounce back series after some rough stretches, and I think we both got one? It definitely beats the alternative, that's for sure. All of these games were relatively close, with back and forth scoring in several. Both teams took two, and none were blowouts. Which made for an entertaining series for sure. 

Here now the writeup:

Game 1:

Padres 4, Brewers 3

W: Luis Severino

L: Jameson Taillon

SV: Tyler Phillips

Real pitching duel for a while. Both starters were working, which is somewhat surprising considering how many meatballs both Sevvy and Taillon generally give up. Both teams had different approaches in getting their runs in, for a while: the Padres went with some clever maneuvering, flinging Dansby Swanson around the basepaths til Ty France singled him home in the 4th, then small-balling around til Swanson, 3 for 4 with 2 steals on the day, brought Riley Adams home. 

The Brewers went with the less sophisticated approach of solo longballs. I mentioned that Sevvy typically gives up too many home runs, which Andy thought didn't line up with the current card. I was, admittedly, thinking of his 2024 Mets card. But nevertheless, the diamonds appeared, and Wilmer Flores, Kyle Stowers and Heliot Ramos all went yard against Severino. And it would have been enough....y'know, had Taillon not given up back-to-back solo shots to Adams and Nico Hoerner in the 7th. The Padres got close to rallying against Tyler Phillips in the 9th, but Drake Baldwin grounded out to end it. 

Game 2: Brewers 9, Padres 8 [F/12]

W: Jhoan Duran

L: Isaac Mattson

I would like to begin by emphasizing the fact that this game began with a 5-run 1st inning from the Padres. Sonny Gray loaded the bases [and knowing what legendary KPSL phrase would follow, I smiled and implored Andy to 'g'head, say the thing'], Ty France singled Hoerner home, and a Tommy Pham grand slam cleared the bases. Rare that a grand slam happens this early and by someone other than Manny Machado, but that's probably reserved for the other Schmidt member of the league. 

Okay. So the Padres put up 5 runs immediately. Typically with this Brewers team it's all you need to ensure a win. Not this time.

Through 5 innings Cade Horton, one pick away from being a Brewer himself, was keeping the home team down. He struck out 7, allowed only 3 hits, and ensured no baserunners saw third. But he left after 5, Brock Stewart came in, and the fun finally began for Milwaukee. The first run scored on an HBP on Heliot Ramos after the bases had been loaded. Then Gavin Lux sac'd another run in. Once Robert Garcia took over, Connor Norby smoked his first homer for the Brew Crew since 2025, bringing 3 more runs in, and tying the game. An inning later, Jackson Chourio would hit a solo shot to make it 6-5. In a game that seemed sealed, the Brewers had a lead.

As it often happens for the Brewers, however, the bullpen made things trickier than they needed to be. In the 8th, Graham Ashcraft plunked Ty France, then gave up a homer to Trent Grisham. An inning later a horde of singles rained down on Daniel Palencia [I believe this was the game where Andy kept acing ballpark single rolls despite them being to 2, which I couldn't believe], with Lars Nootbaar's driving in a run. It was now 8-6. Tyler Phillips came on in the ninth, hoping to shut things down again. Like last game, he allowed a single, here to Matt McLain. Unlike last time, the heart of the order capitalized, as Chourio hit his second homer of the night to tie things at 8. Stowers' K would send things into extras, where the stalemate would remain for 3 more innings. Both bullpens, as maligned as they've been, got the job done.

It would be Isaac Mattson, the 'last resort' for San Diego, that would make the fatal mistake, against Drake Baldwin in the 12th. With one titanic swing the ballgame was over. And THAT is how the Brewers won a game after giving up 5 runs in the first.

Game 3- Brewers 4, Padres 3 [F/11]

W: Lake Bachar

L: Janson Junk

Similar hook to this one. Game 3 began with the Padres scoring 3 runs immediately on a Mike Tauchman home run. I'd like to note for anyone paying attention at home that the Tauchman home run came on Zack Littell's four column, deemed maddeningly untouchable by the Cincinnati ballclub. That was all the luck Andy had with it though. 

This time, the Brewers responded immediately against Dustin May, with some singling from Bogaerts, Baldwin and Nacho Alvarez, plus a sacfly by Heliot Ramos, that got 3 runs in. And from there it was a pure pitching duel for 10 innings. Meaning, yes, both teams scored early and wouldn't again til extras. Littell only gave up 4 hits, striking out 2, and only letting those 3 runs in the first by. He nearly gave a homer up to Kyle Schwarber on the only game of the series where ballpark homers were to 13 rather than 11, but Andy rolled a 15. I switched my D20 for a reason, and that may have been it. 

Dustin May, Isaac Mattson and Janson Junk combined for 9 strikeouts, and stranded ELEVEN BREWERS RUNNERS. ELEVEN RISP LEFT HANGING. By comparison, only 4 Padres were left on base. The Brewers could load bases but not change the score. And so once again, this one went to extras.

The key for me was figuring out that a 6-9 roll on Janson Junk meant an automatic double. First I rolled it to get Ramos on base in the 10th, though no one could get him home. In the eleventh Wilmer Flores immediately doubled on, and two batters later the 6-9 struck again, as Chourio doubled Flores home, capping a second straight extra inning victory for Milwaukee. I don't win a lot, but the ones I tend to win seem to be in extras quite a bit.

Game 4- Padres 2, Brewers 0

In this game, Andy would strike immediately in the first, and it would be enough. With 2 men on, Manny Machado sac'd Hoerner home, then Dansby Swanson singled Goldy home. Those would be the only runs scored in this game. Which is to say: Max Fried worked an absolute clinic. He went 8 innings, allowed only 4 hits [ironically the same amount Carlos Rodon allowed], struck out 5, and allowed 0 runs. It would have been a complete game shutout had a few baserunners kept him to 8, and Tyler Phillips would eventually finish the job in the ninth. 

Again, Rodon was no slouch himself, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs with 7 Ks in 7 innings, but in a game without run support it wouldn't mean anything. A very cut and dry shutout win for the Padres. 

This series brings Andy to .500, and it brings me to 11 and 25. I am in dead last with two series left to go til the ASG break. It's, uh...not exactly looking like the playoffs are even a fantasy. But it's not all bad either. We've got 2 .300 hitters, some better pitching than you'd think, some cheesy power and games like these where we won't stop fighting.