Thursday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while figuring out what you know.

The Brewer winning streak is over at four games and another opportunity to get back to within three games of .500 yesterday slipped through their fingers as John Axford blew the save and the Crew lost 7-6 to the Marlins in ten innings. Rubie has the recap, if you missed it.

Yesterday's game may have been decided in the ninth and tenth, but it took an ugly unnecessary turn in the sixth and seventh. Consider this series of events:

• George Kottaras singles with one out in the bottom of the sixth.
• Cesar Izturis bunts him over, leaving a runner on second with two outs and the pitcher due up.
• Randy Wolf is left in the game to hit for himself, grounding out to end the threat.
• Wolf stays in the game and blows a four run lead in the seventh.

The next inning (after the Marlins had tied the game) the Brewers played for one again, bunting Norichika Aoki over to second and leaving first base open so the Marlins could take the bat out of Ryan Braun's hands with an intentional walk. The Brewers did get one run that inning, but Rubie Q notes that playing for a single score with the current porous nature of the bullpen probably didn't set them up for success.

The Marlins had previously said they expected Giancarlo Stanton back in the lineup yesterday, but instead he sat out for the second consecutive day and had an MRI that revealed loose bodies in his knee. He's day-to-day, but I'd be surprised if the Brewers see him today.

The Brewers probably will, however, see Carlos Lee in his first game as a Marlin. Miami acquired him from Houston yesterday for third baseman Matt Dominguez and a minor league pitcher. To make room for Lee on the roster the Marlins sent Gaby Sanchez, who hit the home run that tied yesterday's game, to AAA.

Other notes from the field:

• It was 101 in Milwaukee at game time yesterday, but that wasn't the highest recorded temperature in the majors. It was 103 in St. Louis.
• Yesterday was the Brewers' MLB-leading 12th extra inning game of the season.
• Norichika Aoki went 2-for-5 yesterday to extend his hitting streak to eleven games.
• Ryan Braun's fifth inning double was the 200th of his career.
• We've got video from Ron Roenicke's postgame comments and a look at the day's turning points.
• The Brat won the sausage race.
  

This four game set wraps up with another afternoon game in extreme temperatures today, as temperatures could once again reach 100 while the Brewers and Marlins play a 1 pm contest today. Tom Green has the MLB.com preview of today's Michael Fiers/Mark Buehrle matchup.

Rickie Weeks doubled and drew a walk yesterday to raise his season line to .195/.314/.326. That's not great, but it's a far cry from the .152/.290/.293 he was hitting on May 27. Adam McCalvy and Jeremy Warnemuende say Weeks has rewarded Ron Roenicke for sticking with him.

Fans of 0-2 counts that turn into 3-2 counts will get a moment to celebrate today: Jeff Passan of Yahoo is handing out mid-season awards and has Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum splitting "The Nibbler Award."

Here's today's lone Zack Greinke note: Ken Rosenthal notes that Chris Carpenter's injury situation has left the Cardinals with a hole in their rotation and speculates that Greinke might accept a trade there.

In the minors:

• The affiliates went 5-0 yesterday and Wisconsin first baseman Nick Ramirez went 4-for-5 with three extra base hits in their 10-9 win over Cedar Rapids. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
• Tyler Thornburg was the winning pitcher in his AAA debut last night, pitching five innings for Nashville. Danny Wild of MiLB.com has more on the outing.
• Bill Bryant of the Huntsville Times has a story on the versatility of new Star T.J. Mittlestaedt. (h/t @Mass_Haas)
• Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has an interview with Sounds outfielder Corey Patterson.
  

If you were away from the site for the holiday yesterday (and the site stats would suggest most of you were), then you may want to go back and check out yesterday's Mug for a recap of what you missed.

If you'd like more Brewer coverage today but you're sick of reading, I'll be appearing on The Watercooler with Jimmie Kaska on Sports Radio 1400 in Eau Claire at 5:15 today as long as the Brewers don't go to extra innings for the third straight day and run over into that time slot.

Finally, congratulations are due out this morning to Badger Boy in Vail, yesterday's winner in our SB Nation Pick 6 contest. Here's the full leaderboard:

Today's first game starts at 12:05, so time is running out to make your picks for today.

Around baseball:

Braves: Released reliever D.J. Carrasco.
Dodgers: Placed outfielder Andre Ethier on the DL with an oblique strain.
Mets: Designated pitcher Justin Hampson for assignment.
Padres: Placed pitcher Andrew Cashner on the DL with a lat strain.
Royals: Designated outfielder Mitch Maier for assignment.
Yankees: Claimed outfielder Darnell McDonald off waivers from the Red Sox and released infielder Matt Antonelli.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I still don't know.

Drink up.