The Scouting Report:
Game 1:
The Brewers get a big win to break their 3-game losing streak behind another dominant start from
Sadahige Kawasaki, who gets his third straight shutout and 7th complete game victory of the 1979 season.
Kawasaki allowed just 4 hits while striking out 6 and walking 1. As has often been the case this season the two young outfielders,
Val Guzman and
Antonio Acuna, lead the way offensively.
Guzman, in the leadoff slot, went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI, hitting his 12th double of the season.
Acuna was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI and he hit his 7th home run.
Joe McPhillips went 2 for 4 and his 2 hits were both doubles to get him to 12 for the season.
Game 2:
The Brewers come from behind in game 2 to get another win, with veteran reliever
Javy Bermudez continuing his fine season getting the win with a hitless inning of relief in which he struck out 2 batters.
Tim Shore got the final 2 outs of the game for his 14th save. The Brewers spread the offense around well, but let's note
Val Guzman's 2 for 4, 2 RBI game in which he collected his 13th double and
Jake DiCesare's 2 for 3, 2 runs scored, 1 walk game.
Jim Atwell got the start for the Brewers and other than a control-challenged 1st inning in which he walked 3 batters and allowed 4 runs pitched pretty well, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits while striking out 4 and walking 5 batters.
Game 3:
Having just lost a home series against the lowly Phoenix Speed Devils, the Brewers come into Baltimore and sweep the 5th place Lords.
Steve Green got the start and the win for Denver, working 7 innings while giving up 3 runs on 8 hits.
Brandon Veach pitched the final inning and two thirds and was fantastic, striking out 2 batters and allowing just 1 hit and he gets his first save of the season with Denver.
Josh Schaeffer (.222/.404/.340), who has had a poor season at the plate (other than, as usual, having a great propensity for drawing walks), was the Player of the Game in this one, going 3 for 4, and hitting a home run to lead off the game (
Rich White had done the same in the previous game).
Jake DiCesare (.299/.335/.456) stays hot, going 3 for 5 in this one.
Notes from around the league:
Oklahoma City's young left-handed starting pitcher Joe Shetler might be the most dynamic young pitcher the MGL and is a real fan favorite. Shetler possesses an elite level changeup and fantastic curveball which leads to a high strikeout rate. Although his control is merely average and his propensity to give up home runs a problem, he is capable of dominant performances and certainly at this point of his career these are not infrequent occurrences.
His team, though, after having looked like they might be on the rise for a few seasons, is currently in 8th place with a poor 26-37 record.
The Brewers continue to lead the league, now with a 4 game lead over Detroit (39-24) and a 5 game lead over L.A. (38-25). Brooklyn remains in 4th place with a 33-29 record, 9 1/2 games back.
In the SJL, San Antonio (45-18) remains in first, 4 games ahead of Columbus (40-21), with Boston (36-26) in third, 8 1/2 games out.