[BirdWatcher]

Brewers record: 4-2 (week), 4-2, 2nd place, 1 gb (season).

April 12-14, versus Oklahoma City: 2-1, 8-7, 9-2.

Opening Day, 1976: The Brewers get a fine start from Sadahige Kawasaki and a timely hit off the bat of Bobby Erbakan to claim a narrow 2-1 win in front of over 41,000 fans at Centennial Stadium in the 1976 season home opener. Kawasaki gave up 1 run on 5 hits in 7 innings pitched and then Jason Gottula and Tim Shore combined to preserve the victory. Rich White goes 3 for 4 in the leadoff slot. Joe McPhilips picked up his first outfield assist of the new season, throwing out a man at home plate to end the top of the 3rd inning.

In the second game of the season, Cheol-han Lee is not sharp but the offense lifts him to a win anyway. Lee gave up 6 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings pitched. On the other hand, the veteran hurler was 2 for 3 with a run, an RBI, and a double at the plate. Zacarias Martell and Bobby Erbakan lead the offensive production. Martell went 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored and hit 2 doubles. And Erbakan was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and hit his, and the team's, first HR of the season. Ben Flynn pitched the final 2 innings for his first save of the 1976 season.

The Brewers also provided plenty of run support in game 3 for veteran southpaw Erik Sloan, though he really didn't need it. Sloan went the distance for the victory, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits. Bobby Erbakan and Rich White remain hot. Erbakan was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI in this one while White went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and an RBI. The two have also combined to provide exceptional defense in the middle of the Brewer infield.

April 15-17, at Charlotte: 0-1, 4-3, 1-3.

The Charlotte Sting have been one of the hottest teams in the early going, and they get the series victory against the Brewers in a close, low-scoring 3-game set.

In game 1 the Brewers are shut out by the unheralded Danny Tatum, getting his first shot at the starting rotation at age 22. Tatum possesses a great change-up and tremendous leadership skills (Captain) but other than that profiles as an average starting pitcher. But he was masterful in this one, holding the Brewers to 1 hit over 7 innings. Why only 7 innings? Rain. Game called before the Brewers had a chance to mount a late-innings comeback. Steve Green gave up just 1 unearned run on 5 hits in his 6 2/3rds before the game was called and takes a tough-luck loss.

The Brewers do come back in game 2 though, as a pair of 9th inning runs make the difference and they hold on for a one-run victory. Brett Taranto was 3 for 5 in the game and came up with the 9th inning run producing single that gave the Brewers their margin of victory. Matt Helm gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits in his 7 innings pitched but did not figure in the decision. Ben Flynn, off to a good start, pitched the final 2 innings to get his first victory of the season. Zacarias Martell and Rich White, both off to great starts, also each picked up a pair of hits in the victory.

In the final game of the series, Charlotte knuckleballer Lienhart Brown mystified the Brewers hitters on the way to a 3-1 victory. Sadahige Kawasaki got the start for the visitors, working 7 2/3rds, giving up 3 runs on 9 hits and sees his record fall to 1-1. Andrew Kennedy went 3 for 4 and hit 2 doubles in the loss.

Notes from around the league: The Columbus Whalers don't seem to be experiencing a Kinsella Classic championship hangover, as they start the season 5-1 to lead the SJL. The Chicago Fire, who were half-way respectable in their first season as an expansion club, get off to an 0-6 start in their second campaign.
The Baltimore Lords and Charlotte Sting both get off to a 5-1 start in the MGL. On the flip-side, the Detroit Falcons start 0-6.