W: Dave Bush (3-5)
L: Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-7)
HR: Jonathan Lucroy (1, first of career), Carlos Gomez (6)
MVP: Jonathan Lucroy (+.327)
LVP: Casey McGehee (-.104)
Graph of 1-0 in the press box and Star of the Game Voting
SBNation Coverage
Clearly, I need to be in the press box more often. On my first night there, Jonathan Lucroy went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and his first major league home run, driving in three runs as the Brewers came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Mariners 8-3. On Lucroy's home run, Macha said, "A couple of guys were getting on him, he hits one home run and gets a curtain call."
Macha also said Lucroy, Corey Hart and Casey McGehee have been in early taking BP every day, and noted that all three are having good seasons. "I don't want to put too much pressure on his hitting," Macha said. "Things will come. His approach has been good."
Lucroy was also behind the plate for a solid performance from Dave Bush. Bush was in trouble in the second and third inning and allowed three runs, but rebounded to retire eight of the last nine batters he faced to complete his outing. All told, Bush allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings, walking none and striking out three. "I don't think I need to talk about how important pitching is," Macha said. "They've got to give us a chance every night to win."
Bush now has a 3.28 ERA in 19.2 innings when pitching to Lucroy, but a 7.71 ERA in 11.2 innings pitching to George Kottaras. Macha mentioned that Lucroy is in early every day and spending a lot of time with Rick Peterson.
Carlos Gomez also went 2-for-3 with a walk and a home run on the night, his sixth of the year. Alcides Escobar went 0-for-2 but drove in two runs with sac flies.
Dave Bush, Carlos Villanueva, Kameron Loe and Trevor Hoffman combined to hold the Mariners to just one baserunner in the game's final four innings. Hoffman struck out two of three batters he faced while pitching a scoreless ninth. He's now pitched five straight scoreless outings, and eight of his last nine.