Brewers 1982

Covering the Milwaukee Brewers throughout the 1982 season, in real-time, as it would have happpened.

Randy Lerch, Jerry Augustine Blow Game

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Indians 7, Brewers 2
Brewers now 57-42 (2nd)
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Randy Lerch
Randy Lerch was removed after facing six batters.

MILWAUKEE — Today’s game between the Brewers and Indians was all about pitching. The Indians had it. The Brewers didn’t.

Brewers starter Randy Lerch only faced six batters. He was lucky that the Indians weren’t able to score more than two runs off of him in an inning plus. After helping the Indians score a run and load the bases on two singles, a hit by pitch and a walk in the first, Lerch struck out Chris Bando looking before Rod Craig hit a well-placed shot to Paul Molitor at third that resulted in an inning-ending double play. Lerch wouldn’t be as lucky in the second, as he’d walk the only two batters he’d face on nine pitches.

Just three starts ago, Lerch shut out the powerful Royals offense. But this is the second disaster in a row. On July 25 against those same Royals, Lerch allowed five runs on eight hits and was unable to get through the fifth.

Of course, it wasn’t just Lerch’s two runs that led to a 7-2 loss. Jerry Augustine was no better, allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings. But a reliable fifth starter is more important to this team’s success than a reliable mop-up reliever.

The fans have noticed. They filled County Stadium with boos in the first inning and later in the sixth when Brewers pitchers were unable to throw strikes and get outs.

This staff could use a guy like Indians starter Lary Sorensen, a former Brewer. Sorensen pitched a complete game, holding the Brewers to only two runs on nine hits while not walking a single batter.

“Obviously it feels good to beat the team that traded you,” said Sorensen. “When you beat these guys you know you’ve beat one of the best teams in baseball.”

This team may not deserve that label without a reliable fifth starter. Brewers officials plan to meet in the next couple of days to discuss Lerch’s role on the team. It would seem that a bullpen move is very likely. “There is always concern when you can’t throw the ball over the plate,” manager Harvey Kuenn told the Milwaukee Sentinel.

Who would take his spot? One possibility is Jerry Augustine, but today’s performance was unlikely to help his case. Another option is Jim Slaton, but the Brewers also need his steady hand in the bullpen.

Dating back to July 11, the Brewers have been dancing with the Red Sox for rights to own first place in the AL East. After today’s loss, the Brewers have dropped seven of the last 11 games, failing to take advantage of an opportunity to take first place while Boston struggles.

A trade may be necessary. Another dependable starter is needed to get over the hump.

Thornton Slam Erases Vuke’s Gem

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Indians 5, Brewers 1 (12)
Brewers now 57-41 (2nd)
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1982 Topps Stickers Pete Vuckovich
Vuckovich did all he could for 11 innings.

MILWAUKEE — For 11 innings, Brewers starter Pete Vuckovich did all he could to win today’s game. He allowed only a single run on 10 hits and three walks. He threw 140 pitches. He threw his heart and soul. And all he needed was two runs from his heavy hitting teammates.

It shouldn’t have been difficult. The opposing starting pitcher was Len Barker, who had a career record of 1-6 against the Brewers. And knowing how easily Harvey’s Wallbangers typically score runs, Vuke’s effort should have been more than enough.

Instead, Barker matched him pitch for pitch through 10 innings. Like Vuckovich, he allowed only a single run before giving way to the bullpen in the 11th inning.

Unlike Vuckovich’s bullpen, Barker’s did the job. Closer Rollie Fingers had the day off, so the ball instead fell into the reliable hand of Jim Slaton. Normally reliable, at least.

This time, Slaton ran into immediate trouble. Jack Perconte led off with a single to right. Miguel Dilone bunted him to second. Slaton threw a wild pitch. Toby Harrah walked. Mike Hargrove walked to load the bases. And then Andre Thornton blasted an 0-1 pitch into the left field seats for a grand slam.

A grand slam. Really? Vuke goes 11 innings, allowing only a single run. And Slaton gives up four runs before he can get two outs?

“It was just one of those nights,” manager Harvey Kuenn explained afterwards. “Jimmy didn’t have hits best stuff.” No kidding.

That’s just how it rolls sometimes, I guess. And while it’s convenient to blame Slaton, we shouldn’t forget the offense that could score only a run through 12 innings. They also had their opportunities.

They had runners at first and second in the second inning, but Marshall Edwards lined to short. Runners at second and third with one out in the third, but Cecil Cooper popped out and Ted Simmons struck out. Bases loaded in the 11th, but Paul Molitor popped to right.

So the offense certainly deserves some blame. In fact, you can blame everyone for this loss. Everyone, that is, other than Vuckovich.

For the longest stretch under Kuenn, it was as if this team could not lose. And if they did lose, four wins would immediately follow. Now, however, they’re in the midst of a 4-6 stretch. It’s a stretch that would seem normal for any other team. But one that is hard to comprehend for this team that was unbeatable a short while ago.

“You can’t expect to play .700 baseball throughout the whole year,” Kuenn said.

He’s right. But the loss coupled with Boston’s win over the White Sox dropped the Brewers to second place, a half game back of the AL East lead.

Rangers Bobble Game to Brewers

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Brewers 3, Rangers 2
Brewers are now 57-40 (1st)
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1982 Topps Rollie Fingers In Action
Rollie Fingers was the talk of the clubhouse after the game.

ARLINGTON, Tex. — This was one of those games that the Brewers may not have deserved to win. But the Rangers certainly deserved to lose.

The good fortune started for the Brewers with two outs in the first inning. Rangers pitcher Frank Tanana induced a Ted Simmons ground ball to third base that should have ended the inning. Instead, Buddy Bell bobbled the ball, Simmons was safe at first and Robin Yount scored.

After Gorman Thomas doubled to put runners at second and third with two outs, Ben Oglivie hit another ground ball that should have ended the inning. This time, rookie first baseman Dave Hostetler bobbled it, Oglivie reached and Simmons scored.

Frank Tanana dominated the Brewers. He pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run on five hits. But his defense committed four errors, largely contributing to the loss.

Of course, the Brewers wouldn’t have won on three runs scored without some solid pitching. Bob McClure allowed only two runs in seven innings and was pulled after his left forearm stiffened up. In the fifth inning, Ranger George Wright hit a liner off of McClure, leading to his early removal.

Rollie Fingers, though, was perfect. The game’s top closer pitched two scoreless innings without allowing a baserunner for his 22nd save.

“Bobby [McClure] pitched well tonight,” said manager Harvey Kuenn after the game. “But the highlight of the night was Rollie’s pitch to Bell. It started out as a forkball, and end up as, well, you know…”

Rollie’s pitch was the talk of the clubhouse. With Buddy Bell at the plate to lead off the inning, Fingers threw a pitch to his first batter. As Harvey said, it was meant to be a forkball. Instead, it sailed well behind Bell’s back and to the Brewers’ dugout. It finally came to a stop in front of Pete Vuckovich.

“That is my ‘I don’t really want to throw this pitch anyway’ pitch,” Fingers said with a sly grin.

The Brewers could laugh about the pitch and their overall subpar play because they won the game to take two of three in the series. Meanwhile, the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 9-7 to remain a half game out in the AL East.

Stormin’ Gorman Socks Two

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Brewers 8, Rangers 2
Brewers now 56-40 (1st)
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Gorman Thomas
Gorman Thomas hit two home runs and drove in five.

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Gorman Thomas entered today’s game with five hits in 19 at bats on the road trip and 12 for his last 69. He had one home run dating back to July 15.

Today, Gorman was the hero in an 8-2 Brewers win. In the fourth inning, he pasted a 1-1 pitch off of Rick Honeycutt into the left field bleachers between two fan-made Brewers signs for a three-run homer to give the Crew a 3-1 lead. In the sixth, he slugged another Honeycutt offering just over Lee Mazzilli‘s glove for a two-run homer to make it a 5-1 game. The home run gave him the American League lead with 25.

“It was a fastball over the plate and the wind was blowing out,” Thomas told the Milwaukee Sentinel about his second home run. “Tonight was my night but on this team, tomorrow could belong to someone else.”

The next time Thomas strolled to the plate in the eighth, he was struck by a Dan Boitano fastball up around his elbow. Gorman, clearly fumed, glared at Boitano as he slowly walked to first.

In the eighth, reliever Pete Ladd threw a pitch up and in on Buddy Bell that sent him to the deck, and umpire Rich Garcia warned both benches. Was it retaliation? Ladd says no, though he did say Boitano should have been throwing strikes with the game out of hand at 7-1.

Moose Haas, on the other hand, did throw strikes. He allowed one run on seven hits and no walks through seven innings. He came out of the game after his left forearm stiffened up thanks to a fifth inning liner by George Wright. Haas is not expected to miss any time.

The best news of the night is that the Red Sox lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1, meaning that the Brewers are once again a half game up in the AL East. They look to extend that lead in the rubber match with the Rangers tomorrow.