It was not the Milwaukee Brewers night tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. It started with the first batter of the game when Yandy Diaz ripped a misplaced changeup from Kyle Harrison over the left field wall for his first homer of the season.
However, Harrison rebounded quite well from that first hitter, striking out eight across five innings of one run ball, scattering just four total hits.
“I thought he threw the ball well. For his first outing with us, he threw the ball really well and responded really well, especially after the first two innings” Pat Murphy said postgame.
The Brewers offense was able to provide some support in the 6th inning when Brice Turang led things off with a double down the line, his fourth double already of the regular season. Then William Contreras followed with an absolute blast to centerfield.
107 MPH off the bat and 415 feet later the Milwaukee Brewers had their first lead of the ballgame on Contreras’ first homer of the year.
But that lead would be short-lived as Aaron Ashby, in his second inning of work of what’s already his third appearance of the season, allowed a leadoff home run to Jonny DeLuca of the Rays to immediately tie the game back up.
The Brewers had a chance to take a lead late in the 8th. Turang walked and then stole second base, Contreras smoked a line drive but right at Junior Caminero. Luis Rengifo drew a walk so there was two on and two out, but pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez struck out swinging and Pat Murphy turned to Trevor Megill in the 9th.
Megill, pitching on back-to-back days, got the first two outs no problem, but then walked DeLuca on a full count and put the game in the hands of catcher Nick Fortes.
“We mound visited, and our message was ‘he’ll ambush fastball up’. That’s what he’s looking for.” Pat Murphy said.
Sure enough, Fortes ripped a fastball up and out of the zone to right-center for an RBI double and the Rays took a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the 9th, Sal Frelick led off with a hit by pitch, but the bottom of the order couldn’t get him over and in with a Mitchell strikeout, Hamilton flyout, and Blake Perkins groundout to end it.
“Two plays that killed us today was the two out walk and then Contreras’ line drive (in the 8th) getting caught. That’s a double and that’s a run” Pat Murphy said.
Brandon Woodruff is on the bump tomorrow for the Brewers as he makes his first start of the season.