WP: Tyrell Jenkins (2-2); LP: Wily Peralta (4-8); Save: Mauricio Cabrera (3); Homeruns: Atl. none, Mil. Braun (19)
Wily Peralta, by any measure, had his best start of the season whether in the big leagues or AAA, but still suffered his eighth loss of the season against four wins. Braves rookie hurler Tyrell Jenkins out dueled Big Wily, and the Braves topped the Brewers 2-1.
The Braves and Brewers played the game tonight trying to not leave anyone on base. They weren’t necessarily trying to score; they were just making outs on the bases.
The Braves had a caught stealing in the first, a runner picked off of second in the third by catcher Manny Pina, and a runner thrown out in the fourth when he went on a pitch in the dirt (with a fine tackle by Chris Carter). In the sixth the Braves had a single and sac bunt, but left Anthony Recker at second as Peralta retired Ender Inciarte and Erick Aybar to end the inning. Through six, the Braves left two on base.
The Brewers had two on and one out in both the first and second but hit into 6-4-3 double plays to end each inning. The only other runner was Ryan Braun, who drilled his nineteenth homer in the fourth so did not leave himself on base. The Crew threatened to leave a baserunner in the bottom of the sixth, but with one down Jonathan Villar ran on a 3-2 ptch to Braun ended the inning on a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play. Through six, the Brewers also left two, but led 1-0.
Wily’s Magic Start ran out of pixie dust in the top of the seventh, as he walked Freddie Freeman to lead off the inning, then allowed singles to Matt Kemp and Nick Markakis to tie the game at 2. That ended the nigh for Peralta with six plus innings, four hits, three walks, six strikeouts, and one run...with two still on base.
Michael Blazek relieved Wily, and gave up a single to Adonis Garcia that drove in Kemp, giving the Braves the lead. A double play on a 2-0 pitch from Jace Peterson gave the Brewers a way out of the seventh, but Blazek walked Recker on a 3-2 pitch. Pinch hitter Gordon Beckham flew to center to end the inning, and the Braves took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the frame.
Blazek still doesn’t look sharp. His fastball mostly sits at 92, topping at 94, down from 94-96 earlier this year. His slider rolls up there, no longer sharp in it’s break. The hope is that he’ll be back next year throwing more like he did last year and early this year.
The Brewers went meekly in the seventh against rookie Madison Younginer, but did leave Chris Carter on base after his two out single. A two hit night for Sleepy; those have been too few and far between lately.
Rob Scahill made his Brewer debut in the eighth. He showed a 3/4 sinking fastball mostly at 93 mph, which he used almost exclusively. His 2-2 slider to Freeman with one down and one on was smoked, but directly at Hernan Perez at second. The toss to Arcia at second and throw to first completed the second double play in as many innings, sending the game to the bottom of the eighth down one.
It looked like the eighth would end with a Villar 4-6-3 double play, but Pina was called safe at second on review on the neighborhood rule; shortstop Erick Aybar was not on the base when taking the toss from second baseman Jace Peterson. Orlando Arcia hit it hard but right at Garcia at third, who tagged Pina for out number three.
The Brewers had their last chance after Jhan Marinez threw a 1-2-3 top of the ninth. The Brewers sent Braun, Hernan Perez, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis up to face fireballer Mauricio Cabrera, in to close over Jim Johnson. Johnson had pitched in three straight.
Cabrera notched his third save of the year, hitting 102 mph regularly as he got groundballs from Braun and Perez, and Nieuwenhuis struck out to end the ball game.
The Braves ended up stranding three, and the Brewers left three of their own. Not a lot of scoring opportunities at Miller Park tonight.
Tomorrow night the Brewers (49-62) will send Chase Anderson (6-10, 5.01) up against Joel Dela Cruz (0-4, 3.41) of the Braves (43-70). The Braves lead the four game set 2 games to none, and have showcased some of the young pitching talent that has the Braves hopeful for a quick rebuild.