Brewers Hammer Jays Again

Brewers 14, Blue Jays 5
Brewers now 2-1 (T1st)
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TORONTO — If you were experiencing any lingering anxiety after a heart breaking loss to the Blue Jays yesterday, you can breathe again. The Brewers’ offense returned to a glorious 14-5 win over the Blue Jays to take two of three in the series.

As they did in Game 1 of this series, the Brewers got to the Blue Jays early and often. Today’s victim was starter Jim Clancy, who allowed seven runs (six earned) in only two thirds of an inning. Like Mark Bomback, Clancy didn’t last through the first as the Brewers sent 14 batters to the plate.

The Brewers offense was too much for the Jays once again. Milwaukee collected 17 hits in all, including four each from Charlie Moore and Cecil Cooper. When your second and third hitters combine for eight hits and your one through five hitters combine for 14 (Paul Molitor, Ben Oglivie and Gorman Thomas each had two), you can usually expect to score a lot of runs. That was certainly the case today.

Want something to be concerned about? As it tends to be the case with this team, it’s pitching. Staked to an 8-0 first inning lead, starter Moose Haas couldn’t last the requisite five innings to earn the win. Buck Rodgers yanked him with one down and two on in a snow storm in the fifth. Luckily, Bob McClure was able to get out of the inning and calm fans’ nerves from that point forward.

But early in the season, it’s looking like this team will be able to score as many runs as are needed to win, no matter how the starting pitching does. We’ll get another look when the Brewers start a three game series in Cleveland on April 13.

Game Notes: Charlie Moore, playing mainly for Ted Simmons this series, finished with 8 hits, 7 runs and 4 RBI in the 3 games … Moose Haas was taken out in the 5th inning during a snow storm. Risky time for a pitching change, but paid off … Larry Hisle, looking to make a comeback, went 0-for-6 and is now 0-for-15 to start the season … After collecting four more hits, Cecil Cooper is hitting .688 after three games.