Thursday- That’s why they play the games

Some things to read while getting the Mikes together.

Baseball is a funny game sometimes.

Entering play Wednesday, the Milwaukee Brewers were on a two-game losing streak and sending their least-effective starting pitcher to the mound to face one of the game’s premier pitchers. Making matters worse, they held Aramis Ramirez, Jonathan Lucroy and Ryan Braun out of the lineup, and put Lyle Overbay and his .347 slugging percentage in the cleanup spot. Yet somehow, they made it work anyway, beating the Washington Nationals 9-2. Noah Jarosh of Brew Crew Ball has the recap, if you missed it.

One of the Brewers regulars who remained in the game Wednesday was Scooter Gennett, who blew the game open in the second inning with a grand slam and became the fifth leadoff hitter in franchise history to record five RBIs in a game. Gennett has 20 hits in his last 10 starts, including eight doubles and two home runs, and he also has the attention of teammate Carlos Gomez:

Carlos Gomez with some love for Scooter Gennett: “For a little dude, he hits the ball hard.”

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) June 25, 2014

The story of the day, however, may have been an encouraging outing from Marco Estrada. The struggling Brewers starter worked 6 1/3 innings on Wednesday and allowed two runs on just two hits and four walks, snapping a franchise record-tying streak of 12 consecutive starts with a home run allowed. Estrada received a standing ovation when he left the game in the seventh. Jonathan Judge of Disciples of Uecker has a look at how the Brewers’ tendency to pitch deep into games helps the bullpen.

• The Brewers are the first MLB team to reach 48 wins (h/t @joe_block).
• Stephen Strasburg tied a career high by allowing seven earned runs on Wednesday. After the game, he told reporters he was “not right mechanically.”
• Scooter Gennett’s grand slam was the first of his career (h/t @MikeVassallo13) and enough to merit a mention on You Can’t Predict Baseball.
• Benches cleared in the eighth inning after Carlos Gomez was hit by a pitch, then slid hard into second to attempt to break up a double play, but the two sides were separated without incident.
• Looking back a day, NESN has a gif of Gomez hitting a foul tip that stuck in the mask of Nationals catcher Jose Lobaton on Tuesday. Since Lobaton technically caught the ball, Gomez was called out.
• The Brewers still have not been swept in a series this season (h/t @MikeVassallo13).
• The Polish won the Sausage Race.

The homestand continues tonight as the Brewers welcome the Colorado Rockies to town just four days after sweeping them in Denver. Wily Peralta will face Christian Friedrich in the opening contest of a four-game series, and Caitlin Swieca has the MLB.com preview.

We probably won’t see Alfredo Figaro tonight, as he’s had a long couple of days. Figaro pitched two innings for Triple-A Nashville Tuesday night before being recalled to the majors to reinforce a depleted Brewers bullpen, then pitched two more scoreless innings for the Brewers on Wednesday. Mike Fiers was sent back to Nashville to make room after throwing four innings on Tuesday.

We also may not see Scooter Gennett, as the Rockies are sending a lefty to the mound, and that typically means Rickie Weeks starts at second base. Brandon Berg of Chippewa.com argues that the Brewers should continue the second base platoon instead of starting Gennett every day.

Gennett’s grand slam drew more attention, but Khris Davis’ solo shot in the fourth moved him into the team lead with 14 home runs on the season. James Krueger of Call to the Pen has a look at how Davis has broken out this season.

With Jonathan Lucroy sitting out, Martin Maldonado got the start behind the plate Wednesday and had a hit and a walk, scoring twice. Steven Jewell of Reviewing the Brew has a look at the backup backstop’s season to date.

We’re a little more than a month away from the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and a pair of rumors started to swirl on Wednesday. First, Jon Heyman reported (via Brew Crew Ball) that the Brewers could be one of a half-dozen teams interested in Padres relievers Huston Street and Joaquin Benoit. Then we heard that the Brewers also sent a scout to Tampa to watch Rays pitcher David Price.

In the minors:

• The affiliates went 2-3 on Wednesday and picked up a walkoff win in the desert, where third baseman Sthervin Matos homered in the bottom of the ninth to give the AZL Brewers a 7-6 win over the AZL Dodgers. You can read all about all of the day’s action in the Brewerfan.net Link Report.
• Carson Cistulli of FanGraphs listed Shawn Zarraga among the “next five” in this week’s look at five compelling prospects from outside the top prospect rankings. This is the second time Zarraga has drawn mention this season.
• Shaun P. Kernaham of Grading on the Curve listed Wisconsin catcher Clint Coulter among players who were snubbed from the All-Star Futures Game.

Back in Milwaukee, the Brewers want to see you tomorrow night for the second game of the Rockies series. Caitlin Moyer has details on a ticket deal for $24 Loge Outfield and $14 Terrace Box seats for Friday’s game.
 
Around baseball:

Blue Jays: Designated infielder Jonathan Diaz for assignment.
Cardinals: Designated infielder Pete Kozma for assignment.
Diamondbacks: Placed catcher Jordan Pacheco on the DL with shoulder tendinitis.
Dodgers: Designated infielder/outfielder Jamie Romak for assignment.
Giants: Placed outfielder Angel Pagan on the DL with a lower back strain.
Marlins: Placed shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria on the DL with a triceps strain.
Nationals: Designated third baseman Greg Dobbs for assignment.
Red Sox: Designated pitcher Chris Capuano for assignment.

Of course, the big story around baseball on Wednesday was Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum throwing a no-hitter against the Padres for the second time in his career. He’s only the second pitcher in MLB history to throw a pair of no-hitters against the same team, and Bryan Kilpatrick of SB Nation has a look at the other, Wisconsin native Addie Joss.

Let’s go around the NL Central:

• The Cardinals trailed 5-1 in the top of the fifth but scored eight runs in their final five opportunities to pick up a 9-6 win over the Rockies. Both teams started pitchers making their MLB debuts, and Marco Gonzalez and Yohan Flande combined to allow nine runs on 13 hits over 10 innings.
• The Reds rode five doubles and a solid start from Mat Latos to a 4-1 win over the Cubs. The Reds are now over .500 for just the second day this season (they were also 38-37 entering play on Tuesday).
• The Pirates fell back to .500 with a 5-1 loss to the Rays. Andrew McCutchen’s ninth-inning solo home run interrupted David Price’s attempt to throw a complete game shutout.
• The Brewers, of course, beat the Nationals 9-2.

Today in former Brewers: Prince Fielder will be posing nude for ESPN the Magazine’s Body Issue.

Today in baseball economics: The Athletics will be remaining in Oakland for the foreseeable future after signing a new 10-year lease for the O.co Coliseum on Wednesday. The story comes with a quote from Commissioner Bud Selig arguing that the best site for a new stadium for the A’s is the existing Coliseum site.

Finally, with help from Brewerfan.net and the Baseball Reference Play Index, we’d like to wish a happy birthday today to:

• Huntsville Star Drew Gagnon, who turns 24.
• Huntsville Star Brooks Hall, who turns 24.
• 2008-09 Brewer Jason Kendall, who turns 40.
• 1998-99 Brewer Mike Myers, who turns 45.
• UW-Madison alum Rodney Myers, who turns 45. Myers pitched nine seasons in the majors between 1996-2004 as a member of the Cubs and two other teams.
• 1976 Brewer Steve Bowling, who turns 62.

Plunk Everyone notes that Kendall’s 254 career HBP are easily the most ever for a position player born on June 26, and Mike Myers leads all pitchers born on this date with 43 career hit batsmen. Rodney Myers is also fourth on the latter list with 13.

Today is also the 17th anniversary of the Brewers trading pitcher Ricky Bones to the Royals in 1997, the 37th anniversary of Cecil Cooper hitting a walkoff grand slam against the Mariners in 1977 and the 43rd anniversary of Marty Pattin scattering 11 hits in a complete game shutout of the Twins in 1971. Follow the links for those events’ respective entries in Today In Brewer History at Brew Crew Ball.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to accept this award.

Drink up.

Don’t forget to follow Kyle on Twitter @BrewFrostyMug, and check out and “like” the Mug’s Facebook page. The Frosty Mug runs mornings Monday-Friday and is brought to you by Legends of the Field, a sports memorabilia company you can trust.