Milwaukee Brewers score early runs for Suter, win 8-1 over Orioles

WP: Brent Suter (1-1); LP: Wade Miley (3-7); Save - none; Home runs - none (isn’t that amazing?)

Remember when Brewer fans were concerned with filling Chase Anderson’s spot in the rotation? Me neither. Brent Suter laid claim to that job with a very good start today against the Baltimore Orioles, going six innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits, walking one, and striking out eight (a career high). Suter’s first win of the year buys him a few more starts while Anderson recovers from his oblique injury, which could total up to eight more opportunities.

The Orioles had a lead-off single from Joey Rickard in the first, but Manny Machado tried to bunt for a hit but lined it right to Suter, whose throw to first easily completed the double play.

Milwaukee ran away and hid early this afternoon, plating four in the first, three in the second, and their final run in the third. The Crew had eight singles, a double, two walks, and a (scary) hit by pitch.

O’s starter Wade Miley was...bad. He retired Jonathan Villar on a sharp line-out to second, and then gave up a single to Domingo Santana, walked Ryan Braun, an RBI single to Travis Shaw, walked Jesus Aguilar, an RBI hit to Manny Pina, an RBI fielder’s choice to Keon Broxton (his good hustle prevented an inning ending double play), and an RBI single to the red-hot Orlando Arcia.

The second inning started much the same - Villar made the first out (strikeout), Santana singled, Braun singled, and then Shaw took a three two pitch off his left wrist to load the bases. Shaw stayed in the game on first, but left after the half-inning for precautionary treatment. Aguilar’s flyball to the warning track in right center became a sac fly as all runners moved up, and then Pina’s ground rule double to left center drove in the sixth and seventh runs of the game for Milwaukee, mercifully ending Miley’s day. He finished with 1.2 innings, seven hits, seven runs (all earned), two walks, the hit batter, and two strikeouts. His ERA jumped from 4.51 to 5.20.

The Brewers’ final run was a classic. Arcia collected his second hit of the game leading off the bottom of the third, and Suter pulled back his bunt attempt with two strikes and chopped an infield single to short. Arcia kept going around second and beat the throw to third, but over-slid the bag. Orioles’ catcher Wellington Castillo joined third baseman Machado, the third base umpire, Eddie Sedar, and Arcia close around third base, so Arcia figured there weren’t enough players left to cover home and took off for the plate. Relief pitcher Jimmy Yakabonis covered home and took the throw and ran Arcia back towards third. He threw too quickly to Machado, and Arcia took off for the plate, where Castillo had joined Jonathan Schoop. They ran into each other, and I’m pretty sure that Schoop caught the throw but Arcia scored easily. Watch the play here!

Jared Hughes worked a scoreless seventh and Michael Blazek went the last two innings in his return to the bigs, allowing no runs with two strikeouts. His slider was electric, and if he is close to his 2015 form the Brewers have upgraded their bullpen dramatically without giving up any players or money - other than Blazek’s salary.

Arcia joined Pina with a three hit game with an eighth inning single. His average now sits at .295. The youngster is rapidly shedding his “potential” rep and becoming a true star.

Time of game? 2:35...Brent Suter is MLB’s favorite pitcher!

For tomorrow’s Independence Day contest, the Brewers (45-40) send current ace (but being challenged by Suter) Jimmy Nelson (6-4, 3.43) to the mound to face the Orioles’ (40-42) Ubaldo Jiminez (3-3, 6.48). Game time is 3:10. All other NL Central games will come tonight, so check the standings for yourself!

Poll results: 70% of our voters think that Keon Broxton should remain the starting center fielder over Lewis Brinson.