:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60086955/976542186.jpg.0.jpg)
Things started off well for the Milwaukee Brewers today, as they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of their game against the Phillies. Christian Yelich drew a one-out walk, and after advancing to second base on a Lorenzo Cain groundout, he scored on Travis Shaw’s RBI single through the shift. Unfortunately, that would be all the offense the Cream City Nine would muster against Zach Eflin and Philadelphia’s bullpen as they managed only five hits and one walk on the day.
Junior Guerra got the start for Milwaukee, and he pitched relatively well. He struck out seven batters across 5.1 innings, but allowed solo homers to Rhys Hoskins in the fourth and Andrew Knapp in the fifth. He came back out for the sixth inning and struck out Carlos Santana to lead off the frame, but was pulled at 82 pitches after issuing a one-out walk to Scott Kingery. Craig Counsell went to Boone Logan to try and get through a string of lefties in Philadelphia’s order, and that went about as well as one would expect these days.
Nick Williams hit a double to put runners on second and third, and then Knapp struck out swinging for the second out. Maikel Franco was called upon to pinch hit and was intentionally walked to load the bases, and then Logan walked J.P. Crawford on six pitches which scored Guerra’s final runner to make it a 3-1 game. Cesar Hernandez followed with an RBI infield single to push the score to 4-1, and that would be all for Logan. Jacob Barnes came in and whiffed Hoskins to end the threat.
That would be the end of the scoring, as Barnes pitched another inning after retiring that one batter in the sixth followed by two scoreless frames by Jorge Lopez to end the contest, with three walks and four stikeouts. After the 4-1 defeat, Counsell had less than glowing words regarding Logan’s role on the team:
Counsell on his decision to use Logan in the sixth: "This is his job and it has to be his role to get these outs. We are down and it’s a heavy left-handed section of the lineup, and it’s got to set up good for him.”
— Tom (@Haudricourt) June 17, 2018
Asked if he should use Logan in less stressful situations until he gets going, Counsell said, "“No, I don’t think we can have less tight spots. If you function as a member (of the bullpen), you’ve got to be able to pitch in those spots.”
— Tom (@Haudricourt) June 17, 2018
The series is tied 1-1 heading into tomorrow afternoon’s series finale, which is scheduled for 1:10 PM. The Brewers (42-28) will send Chase Anderson (5-5, 4.13 ERA) to the mound while the Phillies (36-32) will counter with their ace Aaron Nola (8-2, 2.27 ERA).