[BirdWatcher]

Brewers record: 3-3 (week), 8-4, tied 1st place MGL with L.A. (season)

April 16-18, versus Los Angeles: 3-4, 1-7, 11-6.

April 19-21, at Phoenix: 12-5, 1-2, 10-3.

The Brewers begin the second week of the 1978 regular season by hosting arch-rival L.A. for a 3-game set.
And lose game 1 when the Spinners score two 9th inning runs to pad a narrow 2-1 lead a bit and the Brewers rally in the bottom of the inning falls one run short. Sekien Hamasaki deserved a win, lasting 7 innings while allowing just 1 run (a solo HR) on 3 hits, striking out 6 and walking 1 batter. Victor Colon (0-1, 9.00) took the loss in relief. The Brewers only managed 4 hits in the game but one of them was Brett Taranto's 2nd homer of the season. Kyle Bidwell (who would throw a 1-hitter later in the week) allowed the 4 hits over his 7 innings pitched for the win for L.A.

And in game 2 the Spinners dominated the Brewers, who saw Steve Green (0-2, 8.74) continue his early season struggles. Green wasn't actually horrible- he gave up 3 runs on 6 hits over 7 innings. Ben Flynn though had a really bad outing, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while only recording a pair of outs. Brett Taranto stayed hot, going 2 for 3 in the loss.

The Brewers avoided being swept when they used the hot hitting of Taranto to power them to a victory in game 3. Taranto went 4 for 5 with 4 runs scored and 4 driven in, hitting a pair of home runs to get to 4 on the season. Val Guzman also had a big day, going 2 for 4 with 5 RBI and hitting his 2nd double and 2nd homer of the season. John Weaver (1-0, 9.26) got a win he probably didn't deserve, having allowed 6 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks over 6 innings pitched. Josh Schaeffer was injured in this game while picking up his first stolen base of 1978.

The Brewers then head to the hitters haven of Phoenix Municipal stadium for three games against the Speed Devils.
In game 1 the Denver offense takes full advantage of the ballpark and Brett Taranto hits his 4th home run in 3 games, going 2 for 5 in the game. Val Guzman also homers again while going 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI from the lead off spot. Joe McPhillips also has a big game, going 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored and an RBI. Bobby Erbakan hit his 3rd double of the season but then later had to leave the game following an on-base collision while turning a double play. Zacarias Martell hit his 1st home run of the season in this one. Jim Atwell (2-0, 4.50) wasn't spectacular but was good enough to pick up his second win, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits (and 5 walks) over 7 innings pitched.

Game 2 was a rare pitching duel in the desert. Sadahige Kawasaki lasted 8 2/3rds innings, giving up just a single unearned run on 5 hits, while striking out 5 and walking none, but did not get a decision. Jason Gottula (0-1, 4.50) kept things even by getting the final out of the bottom of the 9th but then surrendered the walk-off lead-off home run off the bat of Paul Toll in the bottom of the 10th. Catcher Erik Bettencourt was the only Brewer with more than 1 hit, as he went 2 for 3 and hit his first big league home run.

But the Brewers get the series win when Joe McPhillips helped power them to an easy game 3 win. McPhillips went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI and both of his hits were home runs to draw him even with Brett Taranto for the team lead with 5 homers. Jake DiCesare, just re-called from AAA Chester, got the start at third base and was 3 for 5 in the win. Brett Taranto kept his hitting streak alive, now at 21 straight games, with a 2 for 5 game and leads the league in batting average at .451. Sekien Hamasaki (2-0, 1.69) has pitched very well in the early going and gave up just 1 unearned run on 2 hits- he carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning- while striking out 6 and walking 1 over 7 innings pitched. Ben Flynn continues some pitching struggles, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits over 2 innings pitched, but also hit his 1st home run of the season while going 2 for 2 with 4 RBI.