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WP: Lucas Giolito (1-1)
LP: Devin Williams (0-1)
SV: Alex Colomé (3)
HR: Ben Gamel (2), Eloy Jiménez (3)
The game started off well enough. Eric Sogard led off with a double, then Keston Hiura walked to put two runners on base with no outs. Christian Yelich was up next and struck out, then Avisail Garcia grounded into a double play to end the inning. Both offenses quieted down after that until the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, another leadoff double put Logan Morrison on second to start the inning. After Omar Narvaez lined out (moving Morrison to third), Ben Gamel hit his second home run of the season, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
One pitch, two runs. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/mMDzL6CDdz
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 5, 2020
Unfortunately, the White Sox got that run right back in the top of the sixth. Former Brewer Yasmani Grandal singled to start the inning, and then Eloy Jimenez homered to tie the game at 2-2. Those were the only runs that Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff allowed in the game. In total, he pitched six innings, allowing just those two runs on eight hits, with a walk and a six strikeouts.
Devin Williams came out for the seventh, and was immediately in trouble after a throwing error by Sogard put Danny Mendick at second. Williams almost got out of it as he struck out the next two batters, but Jose Abreu singled to drive in Mendick, putting the White Sox up 3-2. Williams ended up striking out the side in the inning, but the unearned run gave the White Sox the lead.
Brent Suter came in for the eighth and ninth innings, allowing just one baserunner on a hit while striking out three. It kept the Brewers in the game as the offense tried to rally in those last two innings. In the eighth, Brock Holt walked and Sogard singled to put two runners on base with no outs, but Hiura grounded in to a double play and Yelich struck out to end the inning.
The Brewers tried again with two outs in the ninth. After Garcia grounded out and Smoak struck out, Ryon Healy singled to put a runner on base. Mark Mathias came in to pinch run (making his major league debut), and got to third after Narvaez also singled. Narvaez was pinch run for by Orlando Arcia, who stole second to put two runners in scoring position. It ended there, though, as Gamel grounded out to end the game.
The Brewers offense continued their early season struggles tonight. Though they did collect seven hits and four walks, they also struck out thirteen times in the game. Unfortunately, three of those strikeouts were from Yelich, whose early season struggles continued. After the game, manager Craig Counsell spoke about Yelich’s struggles.
Counsell on Yelich's continued slump: "It hasn't looked great but this is a great, great player. We'll have to continue to support him and continue to encourage him, and understand when anybody's going through this, it's not going to look good. It's not going to feel good."
— Tom (@Haudricourt) August 5, 2020
More Counsell on Yelich: "He's probably worked as hard as you can want him to work. He shouldn't work any harder. That's not going to solve it. He's working as hard as he can. He just hasn't found it yet."
— Tom (@Haudricourt) August 5, 2020
Eris Sogard also weighed in after the game:
Know this, #Brewers fans. Christian Yelich has full support of teammates as two-time batting champ should. Eric Sogard said, "Everyone goes through slumps. Obviously, he is 1 of best hitters in game. We understand that. This can happen to anybody. He's going to turn it around."
— Tom (@Haudricourt) August 5, 2020
The series against the White Sox continues tomorrow, but the series will move to Chicago for the next two games. Adrian Houser will get the start against Dallas Keuchel. First pitch is at 7:10 pm.