We may have just seen the game of the year in Las Vegas: Brewers vs A’s.
In case you missed it, because you were probably asleep, the Milwaukee Brewers and Athletics broke a few records last night.
In the first regular-season game played in Las Vegas since 1996, the Brewers outlasted the A’s in a slugfest. The marathon of a game ended 15-14 after 12 innings and took over four hours, ending just after 2 a.m. EST. The extra-inning affair featured three ties and five lead changes.
The game broke the record for most ABS challenges in a game in MLB history with 16. It also set new MLB season highs for runs in a game (29) and home runs in a game (11), which was only two homers short of the all-time record. It was only the fourth game in MLB history with those run and home run totals.
Baseballs Flying
The balls were jumping off the bat early and often. According to the game broadcast, the wind was blowing straight out for most of the game, which only helped the ball fly at a small minor-league stadium 2000 ft above sea level. A’s slugger Shea Langaliers crushed a first-pitch fastball from Kyle Harrison 483 feet to open the game for the home team.
The A’s continued to add on by way of the home run ball as the game went on. Tyler Soderstrom and Zach Gelof both went deep in the third inning to extend the A’s lead. Soderstrom would add his second of the night in the seventh. Second-year man Nick Kurtz also had a two-homer night, his second a crucial two-run blast in the tenth to bring the A’s within a run. Jonah Heim’s fourth of the season tied the game in the tenth.
The Brewers were determined not to be left out of the power surge. Both Brice Turang and Andrew Vaughn left the yard in the third, with Jake Bauers adding to his Brewers-leading total of 12 in the seventh. The most consequential home run, though, might have been off the bat of William Contreras, who dropped to a seat after hitting a ball off the scoreboard in center field to extend the Brewers’ lead to four in the 10th.
The 11 home runs totaled 4,646 feet.
Pitching Troubles
A night like this is bound to be a struggle for the pitching staff. That was exacerbated by the Brewers’ co-ace, Harrison, having his worst outing of the season.
Harrison came into the game as the only pitcher in the MLB to have at least 11 starts, while giving up two or fewer runs in each. He exited the game in the third inning after giving up eight runs on eight hits and three home runs. In his 11 previous starts, he had only given up 10 runs and four home runs.
The A’s pitching staff spread their runs around a little more evenly. Starter Jeffrey Springs gave up five runs over five innings. Their bullpen combined to surrender the other 10. Milwaukee tagged Hogan Harris, the A’s closer, with the blown save after giving up two runs across one and two-thirds innings.
The game was only just beginning heading into the 10th. The Brewers scored four off of Scott Barlow in the top of the inning, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Jackson Chourio, as well as the gargantuan three-run homer from Contreras.
Aaron Ashby came on in the bottom of the 10th for his second inning of work, primed to get his league-leading 10th win of the season. This was derailed by the bats of Kurtz and Heim, who both homered to tie the ball game.
Both teams went scoreless in the eleventh as Abner Uribe and Jose Suarez held it down for their teams.
In the 12th, Christian Yelich was placed on second as the automatic runner. He stole third with a walking lead before scoring on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Turang.
The Brewers brought in righty Chad Patrick to close the game. Patrick only had two career saves entering the game, but he was able to stifle the A’s offense. Patrick struck out Jeff McNeil to put up a scoreless frame for the Brewers’ win.
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