Some things to read while sending out the drones.
The Milwaukee Brewers opened a trip out west with a nice win Monday night, scoring three runs in both the eighth and ninth to pick up a 9-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Noah Jarosh of Brew Crew Ball has the recap, if you missed it.
The Brewers are already a man short on the bench and had to play a little shorter on Monday night when Carlos Gomez was held out of the lineup with a hamstring issue. Gomez is not expected to need to go to the disabled list, but his absence forced Elian Herrera into the lineup in center field and left the Brewers without a backup outfielder. Herrera, by the way, went 2-for-4 with a double, stole a base and scored a run.
Scooter Gennett tied the game in the third inning with what will likely be one of the longest home runs hit by a Brewer all season. His solo shot to right-center traveled an estimated 441 feet according to Hit Tracker, clearing a 25-foot wall 413 feet away from home plate (h/t @AdamMcCalvy). Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez and Khris Davis are the only Brewers who have hit a ball as far in 2014.
Other notes from the field:
- Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was ejected in the ninth inning for continuing to argue after a replay review (h/t @AdamMcCalvy).
- Each team hit a batter last night, and Martin Maldonado’s (potentially questionable) HBP was the 888th in Chase Field history. Plunk Everyone documented the accomplishment.
- Monday’s game was played under an open roof at Chase Field despite a game-time temperature of 101 degrees (h/t @AdamMcCalvy). It’s the eighth time on record where a Brewers game started in temperatures at or above 100. I was in attendance for two of them.
It’ll be another late night for the Brewers tonight as they continue their series with the Diamondbacks at 8:40 p.m. Kyle Lohse will take on Wade Miley, and Grace Raynor has the MLB.com preview.
Jonathan Lucroy picked up a hit Monday night and has reached base safely at least once in each of his last 34 starts. He’s still unlikely to pass Cardinals standout Yadier Molina in the All-Star balloting, but Noah Jarosh of Brew Crew Ball notes that he made one of this week’s biggest gains.
It’s been an unusual June for Zach Duke, who had made just six relief appearances in the month before pitching the ninth Monday night, but then pitched in four consecutive games from Tuesday-Friday. Duke has been a revelation with his 1.32 ERA, and Adam Wieser of Disciples of Uecker has a look at how he’s updated his arsenal this season.
Duke is one of eight relievers in the Brewers bullpen as the organization continues to attempt to hide Rule 5 pick Wei-Chung Wang. Michael Trzinski of Reviewing the Brew is ready for that experiment to be over.
In the minors:
- The affiliates went 1-2 on Monday, and the lone win came from Brevard County, where Jorge Lopez pitched seven scoreless innings in the Manatees’ 1-0 win over Dunedin. You can read about all of the day’s action in the Brewerfan.net Link Report.
- Adam McCalvy and Teddy Cahill of MLB.com have more on Lopez’s big day.
- Jimmy Nelson pitched 5 2/3 innings for Nashville Monday night, so he’d be going on short rest if he started in place of Marco Estrada on Friday (h/t @alecdopp).
- The Helena Brewers also opened their 2014 season on Monday night, and Brad Krause of Miller Park Prospects has a preview of their roster.
- Meanwhile, we’re still waiting to hear what’s going to happen with Nashville pitcher Brad Mills. The opt-out date in his contract came and went over the weekend and, to this point at least, Mills has yet to be added to the MLB roster. The latest wrinkle came with news that Mills can only request his release if another team is willing to add him to their 25-man roster.
- Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has an interview with Sounds manager Rick Sweet.
Today in power rankings: Call to the Pen has the Brewers holding steady as baseball’s fourth-best team.
Diamondbacks: Placed pitcher Bronson Arroyo on the DL with elbow tendonitis.
Giants: Signed Cuban outfielder Daniel Carbonell to a major league contract.
Marlins: Designated pitchers Randy Wolf and Kevin Slowey for assignment and placed outfielder Christian Yelich on the DL with a lower back strain.
Reds: Third baseman Chris Nelson has opted out of his minor league contract and is now a free agent.
Of course, the big story around baseball yesterday was the premature passing of Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn, who lost his fight with cancer at age 54. Adam McCalvy and Teddy Cahill of MLB.com talked to Craig Counsell and Ron Roenicke about their memories of Gwynn.
Let’s go around the NL Central:
- The Cardinals picked up their fourth consecutive win Monday night, beating the Mets 6-2 at Busch Stadium. Jon Jay had two hits and a walk and scored three runs.
- The Cubs opened their series in south Florida with a 5-4, 13-inning win over the Marlins. Cubs pitcher Travis Wood drove in the winning run with a pinch-hit double in the top of the 13th.
- The Brewers, as you’ve likely heard, beat the Diamondbacks 9-3.
- The Reds and Pirates were off on Monday.
Here are today’s updated standings and probables:
| Team | W | L | GB | Today | Matchup |
| Brewers | 42 | 29 | — | @ Diamondbacks, 8:40 p.m. | Kyle Lohse vs Wade Miley |
| Cardinals | 38 | 32 | 3.5 | vs Mets, 7:15 p.m. | Michael Wacha vs Jon Niese |
| Pirates | 34 | 35 | 7 | vs Reds, 6:05 p.m. | Brandon Cumpton vs Johnny Cueto |
| Reds | 33 | 35 | 7.5 | @ Pirates, 6:05 p.m. | Johnny Cueto vs Brandon Cumpton |
| Cubs | 29 | 39 | 11.5 | @ Marlins, 6:10 p.m. | Jeff Samardzija vs Anthony DeSclafani |
Today in former Brewers:
- Burke Badenhop has thrown 30 consecutive scoreless relief innings for the Red Sox, the third-longest streak in franchise history (h/t @jpcadorin).
- Susan Shemanske of the Racine Journal Times talked to Dan Plesac and Greg Vaughn about coming back to Milwaukee for Friday’s Wall of Honor ceremonies.
- Ben Sheets was also in attendance on Friday and got some laughs from Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Wisconsin Timber Rattler Tyler Spurlin, who turns 23.
- Nashville Sound Kyle Heckathorn, who turns 26.
- 1972-73 Brewer Gary Ryerson, who turns 66.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a new fan.
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.
