Tuesday's Frosty Mug: Eight isn't enough

Some things to read while playing second.

If you stayed up late last night you were rewarded for doing so, as the Brewers scored five runs in the first inning and cruised to a 7-1 win over the Padres, their eighth consecutive victory. Eric has the recap, if you missed it.

The Brewers took the lead early last night on Ryan Braun's fourth home run in his last five games. It was the 208th long ball of his career, tying him with Gorman Thomas for fourth on the Brewer all-time list. BrewGIFs has a gif of him winking at the camera as he rounded third. Adam Wieser of Disciples of Uecker has a look at Braun's sudden transformation into a "three true outcomes" hitter.

The big story from last night's game, however, was Kyle Lohse. While running out a bunt fielder's choice Lohse caught his pinky finger on Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko and dislocated it, forcing him to come out of the game. X-rays were negative, though, and Lohse is not expected to miss a start.

Lohse's injury probably made this decision a little easier: Following the game last night the Brewers announced plans to stick with a five-man rotation and simply bump everyone back a day following Thursday's scheduled off day. Hiram Burgos, Wily Peralta and Kyle Lohse are now scheduled to pitch the Friday, Saturday and Sunday games against the Dodgers.

The Brewers gave Norichika Aoki the night off last night and shuffled their lineup a bit, moving Jean Segura into the leadoff spot and batting Jonathan Lucroy cleanup, where he went 0-for-4 and snapped a six-game hitting streak.

Moving back to Segura, though: He was on base twice last night and carries a .359 batting average into play Tuesday. Kevin Nielsen of FakeTeams asks if anything has changed with the Brewers' speedy young shortstop. He's now batted in the #1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 spots in the Brewer order.

Other notes from the field:

• The Brewers' five first inning runs last night gave them 16 on the season, as compared to just one allowed (against the Diamondbacks on April 6).
• Somehow the Brewers have won each of their last four games despite being outhit in all of them.
• Two Brewer runs scored in the first after Jason Marquis hit Carlos Gomez and Logan Schafer with pitches. Plunk Everyone has more on these events.
• Yovani Gallardo was used as a pinch runner last night for the first time in his career. He now joins Jim Sundberg, Matt Stairs and Bill Schroeder on the list of Brewers who have been used in that role exactly one time.
• One man's outfield assist is another man's stupid out. Everth Cabrera was credited with a TOOTBLAN when Ryan Braun caught him attempting to take third on a fly ball.

Following last night's win the Brewers are now winners of eight straight for the first time since 2008. They haven't won nine straight games since 2003, when they actually picked up ten straight victories en route to a 68-94 finish.

They'll get a chance to extend the streak tonight when Yovani Gallardo takes on Clayton Richard at 9:10. Quinn Roberts has the MLB.com preview.

Carlos Gomez was on base three times last night with two walks and an HBP, and scored a run. He's also the reigning and defending NL Player of the Week. It's the third time in his career he's been PotW, and the second time as a Brewer.

Looking back a day, the Brewers edged out a victory against the Cubs on Sunday after Yuniesky Betancourt's double to center slipped out of the glove of center fielder David DeJesus. He's still kicking himself for missing it.

In the minors:

• Congratulations are due out today to Brevard County catcher Cameron Garfield, who was recently named the Florida State League Player of the Week. Garfield hit .310/.393/.800 over seven days with four home runs.
• Meanwhile, 2010 second round pick Jimmy Nelson's 2013 season is also off to a hot start with AA Huntsville. Mike Newman of FanGraphs has a look at his rising stock.
• Back on the field the affiliates had a rough night last night, going 0-4 across the organization. Jeff Bianchi went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run for Nashville in their loss to Omaha, though, and you can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
• @Mass_Haas notes that Brewer minor leaguers combined to walk 35 opposing batters over four games last night.
• Wisconsin is back on the field at 12:05 today, and Rattler Radio has everything you need to know to listen in or watch.
• Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has an interview with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero.

If you'd like more Brewer coverage today but you're sick of reading, Nathan will be filling in for me today on my weekly appearance on The Sports Den with Downtown Ollie Burrows on SportsFan 100.5 in Wausau at 5:30.

If you haven't yet, please take a moment today to vote in our latest BCB Tracking Poll. It will remain open through the day today and results will be posted tomorrow.

Around baseball:

Angels: Placed pitcher Tommy Hanson on the bereavement list.
Athletics: Acquired outfielder Casper Wells from the Blue Jays for cash.
Braves: Outfielder Jason Heyward is likely to be placed on the DL following an appendectomy Monday night.
Indians: Designated pitcher Fernando Nieve for assignment.
Mets: Signed pitcher D.J. Mitchell to a minor league deal.

Here's today's look around the NL Central:

• Baseball's lone extra inning game on Monday was played in Cincinnati, where the Reds scored three in the bottom of the 13th to come from behind and beat the Cubs 5-4.
• Cardinals rookie Shelby Miller picked up his third win as St. Louis edged out Washington 3-2.
• Elsewhere in 3-2 scores, the Phillies beat the Pirates behind Jimmy Rollins' RBI single and bases loaded HBP.
• And, of course, the Brewers kept their hot streak alive with a 7-1 win in San Diego.

So here are today's updated standings and probables:

Reds outfielder Shin Soo Choo, by the way, leads the NL with 26 hits and has lapped the field around baseball by getting hit by ten pitches. Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs attempted to explain the sudden Choo plunking phenomenon.

Today in former Brewers: LA Times.com named Don Sutton the 20th greatest Dodger of all time.

This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History marks the 28th anniversary of Teddy Higuera's major league debut. Today is also longtime Milwaukee Brave and Hall of Famer Warren Spahn's 92nd birthday, and Plunk Everyone notes that his seven career HBP are the fifth most ever for a player born on April 23.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've sunken into the floor.

Drink up.