Rays 6, Brewers 3 W: Price (8-6) L: Estrada (1-5)
Shaun Marcum threw 54 pitches in three innings before he was removed from the game. The left hip flexor injury he suffered in his last start against Boston had gotten the better of him.
The Brewers got off to an early lead when Ryan Braun hit a ground ball to right field scoring Rickie Weeks. The speedy Corey Hart went from first to third on the play. Braun's single extended his hit-streak to 14 games, a career best. With runners at the corners, Prince Fielder hit into a double play allowing Hart to score. The next inning Marcum gave up a two-run homer to Kelly Shoppach, which tied the game.
Marco Estrada came into the fourth and pitched three innings, giving up one earned run. He would take the loss because of it. Tim Dillard would relieve him in the seventh inning, giving up a three-run homer to Elliot Johnson, blowing the game wide open.
In the ninth inning with the bases loaded, Nyjer Morgan hit a sacrifice fly to score Prince Fielder. Mark Kotsay hit into a double play to end the game.
Milwaukee is 2-4 in interleague play this year and it is not going to get any easier. The streaking Minnesota Twins visit Miller Park this weekend. The Brewers then go on a road trip to play the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. Both teams are red hot so the Brewers must bring their "A" game if they want to compete.
Showing posts with label Tampa Bay Rays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tampa Bay Rays. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Zack Attack
Brewers 5, Rays 1
W: Grienke (7-2) L: Hellickson (7-6)
Zack Grienke knew the Brewers needed a win badly and so did his manager. Ron Roenicke apparently talked to Zack and told him that the team needed a big game out of him, Grienke was clearly up to the challenge.
Grienke struck out ten batters over seven innings in which he gave up only one earned run. The ten strike outs makes it the 12th time in his career in which he had double digits K's. Zack made the Rays look foolish all night with none of them ever coming close. His ability to pitch like that will take the Brewers a long way this season.
"Three plus pitches...you never know what to expect," said Johnny Damon before the game. "As a hitter you are pretty much playing a guessing game with him."
Damon went 0 for 4 with two strike outs, but it was his defense that really hurt the Rays. The Brewers had bases loaded in the first inning thanks to three walks. Casey McGehee hit a pop up to shallow left field. Weeks tagged up and got home with ease as Damon never even attempted a throw. His defense would only get worse.
Yuniesky Betancourt hit his fourth home run of the season, first since May 20, to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the second inning. This would remain the score until the seventh when Grienke would finally give up a run to B.J. Upton. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Ryan Braun hit a two-run single to give the Brewers some breathing room.
The next at-bat Johnny Damon's defense would hurt the Rays again, when Prince Fielder singled to left field. Josh Wilson got waved in before he even came close to third base, as Damon scooped the ball and threw a floater that barely got to home plate. Wilson leaped over the catcher and home plate as the ball bounced past him. The pitcher who was backing up home threw the ball to the catcher as Wilson crawled to touch the plate before the tag was applied. A thrilling play that never should have happened if it wasn't for Damon's poor throw.
The Brewers got a much needed overall team win. As for Shaun Marcum pitching Wednesday afternoon, the chances are looking good.
"They didn't trade for me to sit here and watch games," explained Marcum to reporters before the game. "When it's my day to get the ball, I want to go out there and pitch."
W: Grienke (7-2) L: Hellickson (7-6)
Zack Grienke knew the Brewers needed a win badly and so did his manager. Ron Roenicke apparently talked to Zack and told him that the team needed a big game out of him, Grienke was clearly up to the challenge.
Grienke struck out ten batters over seven innings in which he gave up only one earned run. The ten strike outs makes it the 12th time in his career in which he had double digits K's. Zack made the Rays look foolish all night with none of them ever coming close. His ability to pitch like that will take the Brewers a long way this season.
"Three plus pitches...you never know what to expect," said Johnny Damon before the game. "As a hitter you are pretty much playing a guessing game with him."
Damon went 0 for 4 with two strike outs, but it was his defense that really hurt the Rays. The Brewers had bases loaded in the first inning thanks to three walks. Casey McGehee hit a pop up to shallow left field. Weeks tagged up and got home with ease as Damon never even attempted a throw. His defense would only get worse.
Yuniesky Betancourt hit his fourth home run of the season, first since May 20, to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the second inning. This would remain the score until the seventh when Grienke would finally give up a run to B.J. Upton. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Ryan Braun hit a two-run single to give the Brewers some breathing room.
The next at-bat Johnny Damon's defense would hurt the Rays again, when Prince Fielder singled to left field. Josh Wilson got waved in before he even came close to third base, as Damon scooped the ball and threw a floater that barely got to home plate. Wilson leaped over the catcher and home plate as the ball bounced past him. The pitcher who was backing up home threw the ball to the catcher as Wilson crawled to touch the plate before the tag was applied. A thrilling play that never should have happened if it wasn't for Damon's poor throw.
The Brewers got a much needed overall team win. As for Shaun Marcum pitching Wednesday afternoon, the chances are looking good.
"They didn't trade for me to sit here and watch games," explained Marcum to reporters before the game. "When it's my day to get the ball, I want to go out there and pitch."
Monday, June 20, 2011
Roenicke, Sveum ejected, Brewers nightmares continue
Rays 8, Brewers 4
W: Niemann (2-4) L: Narveson (4-5)
Umpire Bob Davidson can not come to Milwaukee without ejecting someone. Last year he tossed a Milwaukee fan sitting in the front row and tonight he tossed two of the coaches.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke got his first ejection as a Brewer. Unfortunately, that did not inspire the Brewers to play any better.
Nyjer Morgan was hit on the left arm by a fastball from Tampa Bay Ray's starting pitcher Jeff Niemann. As he headed for first base, Bob Davidson called him back claiming that Morgan stepped into the pitch. As Nyjer stepped into the home plate umpire's face, Roenicke squeezed in between them defending his batter. Replays showed Morgan attempting to turn away from the ball with no apparent intentions of ever stepping into it. It was obvious that Davidson made the wrong call. Fox Sports Wisconsin commentators Brian Anderson and Bill Schroeder went ballistic and could not believe what they had just witnessed.
"Talk about looking for something that isn't there," said Anderson. "That is just a blatant bad call," chimed in Schroeder.
Roenicke kept his cool for the most part and play continued. With a full count, Morgan swung at ball four as the boo birds came down hard on Davidson. To his credit Nyjer walked back to the dugout clearly holding all of the frustration inside him, the same could not be said about his hitting coach. Dale Sveum screamed and pointed at Davidson from the top of the dugout, which did not last long as he was ejected in seconds. Ron Roenicke came flying out of the bench area and got up in Davidson's face. He said his part and was ejected within minutes.
The fans came to his defense with loud cheers in hopes that the game was going to be turned around. Considering the Rays had a 1-0 lead, it was not farfetched to think the momentum was in favor of the Brewers.
One out with the bases loaded, Kotsay and Betancourt both failed to bring home a run. The Rays got out of the jam and all hope seemed to be lost. The game went down hill fast as Narveson struggled in the seventh inning giving up two more earned runs.
Brewers reliever Mark DiFelice gave up a three-run homer in the eighth, making him the second pitcher to be called up from AAA Nashville in the last week to have an unsettling ERA. He has a 9.00 ERA in 1.0 innings pitched. Casey McGehee and Prince Fielder both had errors. Jonathan Lucroy sent a solo shot to deep center field for his first home-run in June.
"The biggest thing that bothers me is the inconsistency of this ball club," said Roenicke before the game. "Our pitchers and our offense are both so inconsistent. I know that the home runs come and go which will give you a little inconsistency on offense, but the overall inconsistency is our problem."
That makes two of us Mr. Manager.
W: Niemann (2-4) L: Narveson (4-5)
Umpire Bob Davidson can not come to Milwaukee without ejecting someone. Last year he tossed a Milwaukee fan sitting in the front row and tonight he tossed two of the coaches.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke got his first ejection as a Brewer. Unfortunately, that did not inspire the Brewers to play any better.
Nyjer Morgan was hit on the left arm by a fastball from Tampa Bay Ray's starting pitcher Jeff Niemann. As he headed for first base, Bob Davidson called him back claiming that Morgan stepped into the pitch. As Nyjer stepped into the home plate umpire's face, Roenicke squeezed in between them defending his batter. Replays showed Morgan attempting to turn away from the ball with no apparent intentions of ever stepping into it. It was obvious that Davidson made the wrong call. Fox Sports Wisconsin commentators Brian Anderson and Bill Schroeder went ballistic and could not believe what they had just witnessed.
"Talk about looking for something that isn't there," said Anderson. "That is just a blatant bad call," chimed in Schroeder.
Roenicke kept his cool for the most part and play continued. With a full count, Morgan swung at ball four as the boo birds came down hard on Davidson. To his credit Nyjer walked back to the dugout clearly holding all of the frustration inside him, the same could not be said about his hitting coach. Dale Sveum screamed and pointed at Davidson from the top of the dugout, which did not last long as he was ejected in seconds. Ron Roenicke came flying out of the bench area and got up in Davidson's face. He said his part and was ejected within minutes.
The fans came to his defense with loud cheers in hopes that the game was going to be turned around. Considering the Rays had a 1-0 lead, it was not farfetched to think the momentum was in favor of the Brewers.
One out with the bases loaded, Kotsay and Betancourt both failed to bring home a run. The Rays got out of the jam and all hope seemed to be lost. The game went down hill fast as Narveson struggled in the seventh inning giving up two more earned runs.
Brewers reliever Mark DiFelice gave up a three-run homer in the eighth, making him the second pitcher to be called up from AAA Nashville in the last week to have an unsettling ERA. He has a 9.00 ERA in 1.0 innings pitched. Casey McGehee and Prince Fielder both had errors. Jonathan Lucroy sent a solo shot to deep center field for his first home-run in June.
"The biggest thing that bothers me is the inconsistency of this ball club," said Roenicke before the game. "Our pitchers and our offense are both so inconsistent. I know that the home runs come and go which will give you a little inconsistency on offense, but the overall inconsistency is our problem."
That makes two of us Mr. Manager.
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