The Brewers and Astros went at it again this evening. For the Brewers this was the fourth game this season, already, that they were involved in a game that went thirteen or more innings. In this case, it was fourteen innings. More on that to come.
The two starting pitchers going tonight were really, really good. Justin Verlander had his slider working for the most part, and many Brewers’ hitters were made to look bad on that pitch. Brandon Woodruff was impressive as well. His fastball was electric, and in some ways, he pitched better than Verlander. While the Astros horse was striking out Brewer after Brewer and posting a career high in strikeouts (15 Ks over 7 innings), Woodruff kept Astros from hitting the ball hard. Mike Petriello indicated that Astros hitters average exit velocity against Woody was just 81 mph.
Career high 15 Ks for @JustinVerlander tonight! #TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/G9y1XBcv3X
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 13, 2019
The Brewers were able to get to Verlander when he made mistakes. In the first inning, he threw a 94 mph fastball over the heart of the plate to Ryan Braun. Braun did not miss as he launched for his 11th home run of the year.
RYAN BRAUN HAS COME TO PLAY. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/Ho3pAuYiTY
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) June 13, 2019
Yasmani Grandal would get him in the second inning. Verlander hung a 0-2 slider that Yaz rocketed over the right field wall to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead. As Mike Petriello said of the hanging slider to Grandal, “his slider slid right into the barrel of his bat.”
Yasmani Grandal's solo shot gives the @Brewers a 2-0 lead! #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/lPmzMACgoP
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) June 13, 2019
Outfield defense was quite good for the Brew Crew tonight. Christian Yelich stole a hit from his pal and former roommate, Jake Marisnick.
This catch made us go
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 13, 2019
(via @Brewers) pic.twitter.com/rXY1Z999Mt
Later in the game, Ben Gamel would make his own fine catch to steal a hit.
Down 3-4, this catch saved a couple runs and likely the momentum of the game.
— John E. C. (@johnnyc1952) May 28, 2019
There is no way Domingo catches this ball. A HUGE reason Gamel is a better 4th OF for this team. https://t.co/q9nv2szhjV
The only inning Brandon Woodruff ran into trouble was the fourth. With two outs, Yuli Gurriel hit a seeing eye single just past the glove of Mike Moustakas. Woody would next walk Yordan Alvarez. Robinson Chirinos would follow with a single to score Gurriel. Tony Kemp then hit a fly ball that hit the left field fence in Minute Maid Park allowing Alvarez and Chirinos to score and give Houston the lead 3-2.
Taking the lead 101:
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 13, 2019
1B, BB, 1B, 2B. #TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/ZW35vc7u0W
Eric Thames had an eventful game. He got to catch a foul ball that an Astros fan tried to sneak from his glove. The big man was all smiles though.
Check out the Astros fan trying to rip the ball away from Milwaukee’s Eric Thames. pic.twitter.com/GMorFCQewr
— Matt Young (@Chron_MattYoung) June 13, 2019
In the seventh with Verlander getting swing and misses all over the place and absolutely dominating Milwaukee’s lineup, Mr. Thames would come up big. Going with the pitch, he sent a solo home run over the left field wall to tie the game, 3-3.
ERIC THAMES LAUNCHES A GAME-TYING HOME RUN #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/kTkRXzSZlY
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) June 13, 2019
Both starters exited after seven innings. The Astros bullpen arms continued to mow down Brewers’ hitters. Ryan Pressly and Roberto Ozuna each struck out two Brewers a piece. In fact the Brewers had something going against Ozuna in the ninth with first and third and one out. Ozuna was able to strike out Grandal and Thames to get out of trouble. After nine innings of play, Astros’ pitchers struck out nineteen Brewers.
The Brewers’ bullpen got it done in the eighth and ninth too. Alex Claudio got J.J Reddick out in the eighth and turned it over to Jeremy Jeffress for the next five outs.
Will Harris would take the tenth for Houston and hold the Brewers scoreless. Josh Hader came in the tenth inning. Hader had a lot of trouble finding the strike zone. He walked pinch hitter, Myles Straw. Hader had him picked off, but a poor throw from Thames to Arcia caused a late tag. That late tag resulted in a safe call. Fortunately the call was overturned. Hader would walk Tyler White next. Fortunately, Jake Marisnick hit into a double play.
Refuse the Straw. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/ncWmk0rDeL
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 13, 2019
Josh James pitched the top of the eleventh. He made Brewers’ hitters look awful. He struck out the side, and Ryan Braun especially looked overmatched. Junior Guerra took the bottom of the eleventh for the Brew Crew, and he held the Astros scoreless.
Hector Rondon pitched the top of the twelve for Houston. His first six pitches were balls, and he obviously walked Moose to lead things off. The Brewers were unable to capitalize however.
Junior Guerra came back out for the bottom of the twelve. He fell behind Gurriel 3-0, but fought back with a fastball for strike one, curve that bucked Gurriel for strike two, and a split finger for strike three. He would walk Alvarez, but would strike out the next two hitters and the side in the twelve.
Cionel Perez set the Brewers down with just ten pitches in the top of the thirteenth. Adrian Houser came out for the bottom of the thirteenth. Jake Marisnick did single off of him. He also stole second. Houser blew J.J. Reddick away with a 97 mph fastball, and got Alex Bregman to line out softly to Orlando Arcia to end the inning.
Perez came back out in the top of the fourteenth. Yelich led off the inning with a single to right. After Braun flew out in front of the right field wall, the Moose came Loose! Mike Moustakas smoked a home run with a 107 mph exit velocity to make it 5-3, Brew Crew. Yasmani Grandal followed with a double into the right centerfield gap. Jesus Aguilar hit one on the button right out shortstop, Myles Austin, who couldn’t make the play. Aguilar was given a hit and an RBI that tacked on one more for a 6-3 lead.
BREWERS WIN IN 14 INNINGS
— IKE Brewers (@IKE_Brewers) June 13, 2019
Final Score: 6-3
• Houser gets the Win and Save
• Yelich clutch again with 2 more hits
• Braun, Grandal, Thames solo HRs
• Moose: Go ahead 2 run SMASH
Shout out to everyone that stayed uppic.twitter.com/KCKZ2CnqTj
Houser came out to finish the Astros off in the bottom of the fourteenth. He started the inning off by overmatching Michael Brantley to strike him out. He next struck out Gurriel by painting the outside corner. He did walked Alvarez, but the guy that Mike Petriello referred to as the 300th best pitcher in the game induced a soft ground ball that ended the game and notched the victory for Milwaukee in a fantastic game between two great teams.
The Brewers have the day off tomorrow. They will return to play Friday in San Francisco. Zach Davies will take the mound for Milwaukee. Drew Pomeranz will take hill for the Giants. The game can be heard on WTMJ and seen on Fox Sports Wisconsin. First pitch is scheduled for 9:15 CT.