Brewers 7, Mariners 3
Brewers now 78-53 (1st by 4.5 games)
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MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers acquired veteran pitcher Don Sutton from the Houston Astros because their pitching wasn’t good enough. Don’t tell that to Doc Medich.
Medich, you’ll recall, was purchased from the Rangers last month with the expectation of him becoming the team’s fifth starter. Now that Sutton is on the roster, the only reason Medich is getting a start is because the team has a double header tomorrow with the Indians and an extra starter is needed.
Medich, of course, keeps pitching better than adequately. Tonight he went eight innings, allowing three runs on only five hits, walking five and striking out seven. The win improved his record on the season to 10-11 and with the Brewers to 3-0.
“He pitched a good game tonight,” manager Harvey Kuenn said of Doc’s performance. “A little erratic and seemed to not get his rhythm. He was behind a lot of the hitters, but when he had to make a good pitch, he did.”
That kind of sounded like the description of a typical performance of teammate, team ace and potential Cy Young Candidate Pete Vuckovich, doesn’t it? Gets himself into trouble. Makes the pitches when he needs to.
Okay, Medich is no Pete Vuckovich. But the fact that he’s the team’s sixth starter and is available in case of emergency is a very safe feeling for these Brewers. The additions of Medich and Sutton could, if you’ll pardon the medical puns, cure the team’s pitching woes down the stretch.
The offense, of course, will continue to be just fine. The top of the order (Paul Molitor, Robin Yount and Cecil Cooper) went a combined 4-for-8 with three walks, four runs scored and six RBI. Molitor hit his 14th and Cooper his 27th home run of the season.
Both the Red Sox and Orioles won as well, so the Brewers remained up 4 1/2 and 5 games up, respectively.