Next up was 3 games against the Velocity at Centennial Stadium.
In game 1, Harry Lyerly was once again very sharp as he moves to 2-0 with an 0.59 ERA in his first 2 starts. Lyerly isn't striking out as many batters this year so far, but he did get 8 K's in this game, and he isn't walking nearly as many, and walked none in his 7 1/3rd innings, as the Brewers won 7-1. Jonathan Koch, who hasn't been hitting well, came alive with a 2 for 4, 2 RBI game and he hit his 2nd double of the 1973. Kevin Curtis hit his 1st double and also went 2 for 4.
Steve Green wasn't great in game 2- giving up 4 runs (3 earned) in 7 innings pitched. Granted, he only gave up 3 hits and he struck out 9, but he also walked 4 and tossed a couple of wild pitches that scored runs. More importantly, the Brewers once again scored 7 runs and Sam Pruiett pitched a very fine 2 innings to finish up the game and earn his first save of the season, and game 2 went to Denver 7-4. Joe McPhillips (.296/.345/.407), the Brewers talented 24-year old center fielder, is heating up at the plate and went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI. Pat Rondeau (.389/.400/.444) also was 3 for 5 and hit his 1st double of the season. Josh Schaeffer (.200/.385/.700) went just 1 for 4 but the 1 was just the 2nd HR of the season for the team and the 1st for Schaeffer in the bigs.
Things went sideways for the Brewers in the final game of the series though, as they lost 9-1 and that makes it sound closer than it really was. They were outhit 21-7. Cheol-han Lee had one of his worst starts in a Brewers uniform, giving up 6 runs on 13 hits in just 5 2/3rds innings pitched. He did strike out 8 but he also walked 3 and gave up a big 1st inning HR to Velocity center fielder Antonio Sosa. The bullpen wasn't much better, as Jordan Stephens gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and a walk while recording only 1 out, and Dave Duncan gave up a run on 2 hits in the final 1 2/3rds innings. On the plus side, Jonathan Koch (.273/.316/.333) went 2 for 4 and Joe McPhillips (.300/.364/.433) went 1 for 3, hitting his 4th double, walking once, driving in the lone Brewer run, and most impressively, throwing out two runners at home plate, which had a lot to do with the final score not being even higher than it was. In his 7 games started this season, McPhillips now has 3 outfield assists.
