Brewers finish with win, 6-4 in 10 over Rockies

WP: Tyler Thornburg (8-5); LP: Chris Rusin (3-5); Save: Corey Knebel (2); HR: Mil, Domingo Santana (11), Andrew Susac (1); Col, Charlie Blackmon (29)

Your Milwaukee Brewers had the National League leaders in both homeruns and stolen bases. Their final record of 73-89 is about 10 games better than many experts predicted. Fun, in the actual sense of the word.

For the second straight game Tyler Thornburg blew a save in the ninth inning, and for the second straight game the Brewers made him a winner with a tenth inning homer. This time it came from new catcher Andrew Susac, who’s first Brewer homer came after a two out hustle double from Orlando Arcia. Susac had struggled through a tough day at the plate, with three strike outs in four at bats, but he drilled a slider half-way up the bleachers in left.

Corey Knebel worked a perfect tenth for his second save, striking out the last two batters. The last out was Charlie Blackmon, who had gone four for four with a walk, a homer, and two doubles previously. His lead-off homer (his tenth of the year) gave the Rockies an early 1-0 lead. Starter Tyler Cravy also allowed a second inning run when Blackmon’s two out single scored Christhian Adamis.

The Brewers had taken a brief 2-1 lead in the top of the second when Hernan Perez was hit by a pitch (the first time ever in his professional career), Orlando Arcia’s deep drive to center was lost in the sun by Blackmon - scoring Perez - and a groundout by Jake Elmore, driving in Arcia, who had stolen third.

Colorado broke the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth off of Jhan Marinez. Tom Murphy and Jordan Patterson had back-to-back two out doubles.

Rockies 21 year old starter German Marquez pitched well, and would have most likely had a shutout going if not for the ball lost by Blackmon. He left with the lead after giving up a lead-off single to Elmore in the top of the seventh. Marquez worked 6 innings, allowing 6 hits and two runs, both earned. He walked two, and struck out 7.

The Rockies still led 3-2 into the top of the eighth, when reliever Carlos Estevez gave up a single to Chris Carter and a homer to Domingo Santana. Carlos Torres gave up two two out hits in the bottom of the eighth, but fanned David Dahl to end the inning.

Thornburg had his third consecutive blown save when a two out single by Patterson drove home Nolan Arenado to tie things up at 4-4, setting the stage for Susac’s dramatic shot.

Sadly, this is my last recap of the year. Next year’s game 162 recap will hopefully be for much higher stakes than avoiding their 90th loss. I’ll try and temper my enthusiasm, but it’s very hard.

We’ll talk.