Carlos Gomez props up offense: MIL 3, DET 2

Brewers Starting Pitcher: Mike Fiers
Opponent Starting Pitcher: Kyle Lobstein

Winning Pitcher: Jeremy Jeffress
Losing Pitcher: Kyle Lobsten

SV: Francisco Rodriguez (7)

HR: Carlos Gomez (4), Aramis Ramirez (4)

FanGraphs' WPA Chart
Boxscore

In what was actually a terrifying moment in yesterday's game Carlos Gomez was struck in the side of the head with a 97 mph heater from Noah Syndergaard. He left the game on his own feet and was lucky enough to have not experienced a concussion. He was well enough to start in today's game. In fact he was so well he led of the game with a home run!

The Tigers answered back right away in the first by manufacturing a run: Base hit, SB, runner advanced on a wild pitch, RBI fielder's choice. The Brewers were looking pretty shaky but then Mike Fiers went and struck out Miguel Cabrera and got Victor Martinez to weakly ground out. Then in the second inning the Tigers would take a 2-1 lead in a similar manufacturing manner. Baseball is weird sometimes.

The Brewers wouldn't allow the Tigers to hold the lead for long. In the fourth inning Aramis Ramirez hit his fourth home run of the year to tie the game at 2 apiece.

That score would hold through the sixth inning but Mike Fiers wouldn't. He got pulled after 5.2 innings pitched. He allowed 5 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs. He struck out just 3 batters but kept the ball on the ground (55.6 GB%). Both are somewhat uncharacteristic of Fiers. All things considered this was a decent enough start from him especially considering how potent the Tigers offense is. In fact he could have gone 6 full innings had it not been for a high throw from Hector Gomez that kept the Brewers from turning a double play.

The first two runs of the game for the Brewers were home runs. The third was courtesy of three singles. Well, sort of. Elian Herrera singled but was erased by a fielder's choice off the bat of Luis Sardinas. Martin Maldonado and Carlos Gomez would follow with back-to-back singles to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning.

Jeremy Jeffress came in to relieve Mike Fiers and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings notching 3 strikeouts in the process. He's been pretty good this year and while the walks are still a bit high it's not been nearly the problem for him that is has in the past.

Jonthan Broxton ran into some trouble in the eighth inning but after a double play he got out of the jam with a strikeout on a 98 mph pitch. He's had some games where I know he got it up to 96 and some where I think he got it up to 97 but I'm quite certain that was his first 98 of the season.

Francisco Rodriguez came into the ninth with a one run lead. He struck out the first batter and then gave up a base hit. The Tigers put Yoenis Cespedes in to pinch hit and he grounded into a double play to end the game.

Brewers won by a score of 3-2 and improved their season record to 14-25.

Outstanding Defensive Play(s)

In the bottom of the third inning Mike Fiers was able to get 2 quick outs before giving up a triple to Miguel Cabrera. He then got Victor Martinez to ground to third base but it was sharply hit and right down the third base line. Elian Herrera was the third baseman in this game. The shift was on and so he was almost at shortstop but he was able to range to his right and make a diving stop. Then from a long distance was able to make a very strong, very accurate throw to first base just in time to secure the third out.

Later in the 8th inning Jonathan Broxton found himself in a tough spot with a one run lead and runners at first and second with no outs. Victor Martinez was at the plate and Broxton fed him a steady diet of fastballs inside until eventually Martinez did ground weakly between first and second. It was passed the pitcher so the second baseman had to charge the ball. He threw to second for the force and the throw to first was just in time* to get the second out. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus asked for a replay and in my opinion it was pretty clear that Martinez was safe. But those calls have gone against the Brewers in the past so I'll take this one.

Next Game:

Tuesday May 19, 6:08 pm CST: Jimmy Nelson vs Anibal Sanchez