Despite having the tying runner on base twice in the top of the ninth inning, the Milwaukee Brewers came up short in the series opener against the Atlanta Braves, losing 3-2. The loss is Jacob Misiorowski’s first since April 19th against the Miami Marlins.
Tonight was one of those frustrating games for the Brewers, in which, in every inning except the first and second, they had a runner on base. Overall on the night, the offense left 11 runners on base. On the flip side, Misiorowski wasn’t as strikeout-heavy as he normally was, striking out just seven batters. Honestly, if it wasn’t for one poorly located pitch, the Brewers squeaked out a 2-1 victory.
The Brewers offense was able to crack the scoring column in the top of the third inning with an RBI single off the bat of Brice Turang to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. That would be it in terms of offensive production for the rest of the game until the Brewers got something cooking in the top of the eighth inning.
Huge credit goes out to Martín Pérez, who historically has never been able to find an answer to success against the Brewers. Tonight, he found that answer for the first time in his career as Pérez threw six innings, allowing just one run on six hits, two walks, and he struck out five batters.
Clinging onto a 1-0 lead, Misiorowski ran into trouble against the tough lineup that is the Braves. A pair of singles from Jorge Mateo and Ozzie Albies, followed by a walk from Dominic Smith, loaded the bases for the Braves. Then, Mauricio Dubón hit a single into left field to drive in two runners to give the Braves a 2-1 lead.
Abner Uribe replaced Misiorowski on the mound to begin the bottom of the seventh inning, and on the first pitch of his appearance, he gave up a no-doubt solo home run to Mike Yastrzemski to push the Braves’ lead to 3-1.
Arguably one of the more back-bending parts of the game for the Brewers came in the top of the eighth inning. Andrew Vaughn was able to get some sort of offensive production started with two outs before Jake Bauers followed with a pinch-hit walk. Sal Frelick pinch-hit for Cooper Pratt and worked a full count before hitting a groundball up the middle that got snagged by Braves pitcher Robert Suarez to end the inning, stranding the tying runner on base.
Perhaps the other part in this game that shows that baseball is a game of inches happened at the top of the ninth inning. Christian Yelich drew a one-out walk before Chourio ripped a first-pitch double down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Much like earlier in the game, Turang came through, driving in a run before Chourio was thrown out at the plate after a nice throw from Eli White. Then, Contreras went 1-2-3 in his at-bat to end the ballgame, handing the Brewers their second straight loss.
Already, tonight’s game is going to be one that you look back on and wish you had, especially because this series doesn’t get any better for the offense. Chris Sale will be on the bump for the Braves, and he will enter tomorrow’s game with a 2.30 ERA on the season with 92 strikeouts. Being handed the ball for the Brewers will be Kyle Harrison, who has a 2.47 ERA and 80 strikeouts on the season.
The Brewers will seek to even up the series tomorrow afternoon, with the first pitch coming at 3:10 p.m.