Despite four errors, Brewers win strange game over Pirates 5-3

WP: Kyle Lohse (3-1)
LP: Charlie Morton (0-2)
SV: Francisco Rodriguez (5)

HR: Carlos Gomez (5)

MVP: Martin Maldonado (+.199) with an assist to a destroyed baseball (pictured above)
LVP: Jean Segura (-.073)

Box Score

Win Expectancy Graph

If you have been to Miller Park, you have probably seen the ads with the highlight videos of baseball bloopers.  If that company wanted to update their videos, they could make one of those ads from this game alone.

I couldn't accurately describe this game if I tried.  Let's start with this:  There were four errors in the game.

- Fielding error by Mark Reynolds in the first inning, where Mark Reynolds and Aramis Ramirez collided trying to catch a routine fly ball.
- Throwing error by Martin Maldonado in the first inning when he tried to catch Starling Marte stealing second and threw the ball into center field.
- Fielding error by Carlos Gomez in the third inning on a bad throw that allowed the baserunners to advance.
- Throwing error by Jean Segura in the seventh inning on a bad throw that went wide of Reynolds at first base.

That's not what you want to see from the defense.  Of course, that doesn't even include the other mistakes that happened in the game, such as Jean Segura caught stealing and Khris Davis getting thrown out at home plate.

Luckily, Kyle Lohse was up to the challenge of keeping the Brewers in the game.  He pitched 6 1/3 innings today, allowing four hits and three walks with five strikeouts.  Along with the four errors, that led to three runs allowed, but only one of those was earned.

Martin Maldonado got the start today as Jonathan Lucroy got a day off, and he ended up having the strangest day of everyone.  He did have the throwing error, but also had a good day at the plate.  He went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.  The strangest part of the game came in the sixth inning, when Maldonado hit a routine ground ball to third base, but the cover came off the ball when he hit it.  The cover was so far off that Pedro Alvarez had no chance to throw Maldonado out at first.

Thankfully, the offense did show up today overall, because the Brewers needed it.  In the fourth inning, Ryan Braun led off the inning with a double and Aramis Ramirez followed it with a walk, then Khris Davis was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Mark Reynolds flew out for the first out of the inning, then Scooter Gennett doubled to bring home the first two runs, but Khris Davis was also thrown out trying to score.  Martin Maldonado followed it with an RBI single to score Gennett.

The Brewers added on another run in the fifth inning thanks to a monster solo home run from Carlos Gomez.  Then, in the sixth inning, Reynolds singled to lead off the inning, and then Martin Maldonado "singled" on that infield ground ball that had the cover come off.  Lohse advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, and Carlos Gomez brought in a run with a single.

In the bullpen, Tyler Thornburg pitched 1/3 inning and allowed a hit, followed by Will Smith pitching 2/3 inning and allowing a hit.  Jim Henderson worked around a walk in his 2/3 inning, and Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.  The last out came on a lucky play, where Mark Reynolds knocked the ball into the air and caught it to end the game.

The Brewers continue their series against the Pirates tomorrow night at 6:05 pm.  Matt Garza starts for the Brewers, and Wandy Rodriguez pitches for the Pirates.