Brewers 12, Twins 1
Brewers now 15-10 (2nd)
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MILWAUKEE — What happens when your starting pitcher allows six baserunners in a complete game and your offense is 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position?
You win, son. You win.
Is Mike Caldwell the ace of this staff? It’s been looking like it. In five of his six starts this season, Caldwell has allowed three or fewer runs. He’s allowed one or nothing three times. Caldwell’s ERA is now ace-worthy at 2.72.
Granted, the Brewers didn’t need an ace on the hill on this night. In five of their eight turns at bat, the Brewers took a pass on scoring runs. Not necessary. But they scored four in the third, three in the sixth and five in the seventh. Twelve runs on 12 hits for the efficient Crew.
You know it’s been a good game when in the eighth inning your starting pitcher is still on the mound, and back-ups Don Money, Ed Romero, Roy Howell and Kevin Bass have taken temporary residency in the field.
Remember when we were worried about Gorman Thomas? That was before he was able to face the Twins. No home runs in April. Four home runs already in May. Including his third inning three-run shot today, all four of those monstrous bombs have been off of the Twins.
Which makes a guy wonder… Since Gorman is torching the Twins, they should respect his ability, correct? So why, with two outs in the third and runners at second and third, did the Twins intentionally walk Ben Oglivie to get to Thomas? He promptly made them pay.
Or maybe the Brewers are just messing with the Twins’ heads now. In the series opener on May 6, it was the Twins’ decision to have starter Brad Havens pitch to Oglivie with the bases loaded in the eighth instead of going to the bullpen that lost the game. Maybe the lesson learned there was not to pitch to Oglivie. Well, then you’ve gotta deal with Gorman.
Sure, it’s just the Twins. But playing this team has a way of making the Brewers seem like a pennant contender. And I appreciate it. Luckily, the Brewers have one more game against them tomorrow. Have no mercy!
Game Notes: Larry Hisle has been placed on the 15-day DL after injury his shoulder in batting practice. Hisle has a significant history with the injury, and the fear is that he has torn it.