Mariners 3, Brewers 2 (10)
Brewers now 76-53 (1st by 4.5 games)
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MILWAUKEE — Pete Vuckovich fought out of jams for eight innings. He did all he could to keep his team in the game. The Brewers’ offense and defense didn’t cooperate.
The entire Brewers’ offensive attack came in the bottom of the fourth when Ben Oglivie launched a towering two-run homer into the bullpen in right. The Brewers had three hits in that inning. They had three in the other nine combined.
Even so, this game shouldn’t have ended in 10 innings. Jim Slaton, who had relieved Vuke to begin the ninth, retired the first two batters he faced in the 10th inning. He then walked David Revering, which would seem harmless enough with two outs.
But with John Moses pinch running on first, Rick Sweet laced a base hit to center. The speedy Moses turned around second and challenged the arm of Gorman Thomas by heading for third. Gorman fired… and fired high, over Paul Molitor‘s glove and into the Mariners’ dugout. The eventual winning run scored.
Considering the lack of Brewers offense and the fact that the Mariners had 12 hits and left 11 on base may just mean the Brewers never deserved to be in this game anyway. Four times they stranded either runners at first and third, second and third or the bases loaded without scoring.
So while the focus of this loss may fall on the errant throw by Gorman Thomas, the offense is the real story. But given that the offense is so rarely the reason for a loss this season, we can chalk this one up to “they just didn’t have it that day.”
But the Brewers can’t have many more of these games during the final month of the season since their rivals are suddenly adding pressure. The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles both won, pulling to within 4 1/2 and 5 games of the Brewers, respectively.