Alan Trammell

Brewers Hold Tigers for Big Win

September 15

Brewers 5, Tigers 3
Brewers now 86-60 (1st by 1.5 games)
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1982 Topps Roy Howell — Roy Howell was the unlikely offensive hero for the Brewers.

DETROIT — The Brewers beat the Tigers 5-3 with Pete Vuckovich on the mound for his 17th win. Must’ve been an easy win, right?

“People are going to look at that score and figure it was an easy win,” manager Harvey Kuenn said after the game. “But it wasn’t.”

Well, alright then. Harvey set me straight.

Really, even though Vuke never seems to lose, no start of his is particularly easy. Today’s game was a shining example. The Tigers had 13 hits and three walks but left 14 on base, going 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

The biggest bullet was dodged in the bottom of the eighth. With the Brewers hanging on to a 5-3 lead, Vuckovich allowed a one-out single to
Alan Trammell. Jamie Easterly then got the call from the pen and allowed a single to Lou Whitaker. With two on and one down, Dwight Bernard was the third pitcher in three batters and walked Glenn Wilson to load the bases.

After Howard Johnson popped to third, the dangerous Lance Parrish came to the plate. It was Parrish who hit the game winning home run in the 10th inning two nights ago.

“I figured he’d try to jerk it just like the other night,” Bernard said, “and that’s exactly what he did. But it was a curve on the outside corner and he hit it off the end of his bat.”

It may have been off the end of his bat, but Parrish still gave it a ride. The bases loaded blast sent Ben Oglivie to the wall where the ball finally died in his glove for the final out.

The offensive hero of the night was Roy Howell, who had an RBI double in the second to give the Brewers the lead to start and a two-run single in the sixth to give them the lead for good. Both crucial hits were with two outs.

It was another key win as the second place Baltimore Orioles again beat the New York Yankees to remain a game and a half behind the Brewers.

Meanwhile, the Brewers won a potentially important coin flip. In the event of a three-way tie between the Brewers, Red Sox and Orioles, the Brewers would play a game at Boston. The winner would host the Orioles. Since the Red Sox are now 5 1/2 games back, the only tie that is particularly likely is with the Orioles. So this is a big deal.

The Brewers have a day off tomorrow before starting a three game series against the reeling Yankees on September 17 in Milwaukee.

Tigers, Umpires Spoil Strong Start

September 6

Tigers 6, Brewers 5 (10)
Brewers now 81-56 (1st by 3.0 games)
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1982 Donruss Doc Medich — Doc Medich no-hit the Tigers for six innings but took the loss in 10.

MILWAUKEE — For six innings, Brewers starting pitcher Doc Medich no-hit the Detroit Tigers. Staked to a 3-0 lead in the seventh, it all came apart at the seams.

Glenn Wilson led off the seventh with a single to left to break up the no-no. Then Larry Herndon hit a grounder to Ed Romero at second for what appeared to be a sure double play. Romero flipped to Robin Yount at second who gunned to Cecil Cooper at first, but first base umpire Al Clark ruled Herndon safe.

Jim Turner would then hit a double to score two, including Herndon, to make it 3-2. The Tigers then took the lead in the eighth when they scored three more runs on three hits to make it 5-3.

This was only the start of an aggravating few innings for manager Harvey Kuenn and the Brewers. Ben Oglivie would tie the game at 5 in the bottom of the eighth with his 27th home run of the season, but the Brewers nearly won the game in the bottom of the ninth when two more controversial calls stood in their way.

After Marshall Edwards led off the inning with a walk, Ed Romero laid down a bunt. Feeling lucky, pitcher Milt Wilcox picked it up and fired to Alan Trammell at second. Jim McKean ruled Edwards out, and manager Harvey Kuenn stormed out of the Brewers dugout to express his displeasure.

But instead of two on and no outs, there was one on and one out. Paul Molitor bunted and Wilcox threw the ball away to put runners on first and third. Robin Yount then grounded to short and, instead of trying for the double play, Alan Trammell fired home.

It appeared Ed Romero got in. Of course, nothing was the way it appeared today, and home plate umpire Jim Evans ruled Romero out. Kuenn again charged out of the dugout to find his rightful place on the field, and third base coach Harry Warner joined him in voicing his disgust.

“I got my leg in between his legs,” Romero explained after the game. “I was going on any ground ball. I thought I had a good jump but maybe I didn’t have a big enough lead. It was a very close play. When I started my slide the ball was just getting there. I don’t think he blocked the plate.”

Doc Medich was left in to pitch the 10th, presumably because Rollie Fingers was unavailable, and Tom Brookens promptly hit a solo home run to give the Tigers the lead.

Would you believe there was yet another controversial call in the Tigers’ favor? Of course you would. With Ben Oglivie on first and one out in the bottom of the 10th, Charlie Moore hit a grounder into the hole at short. Trammell fired to Lou Whitaker at second and Oglivie was ruled… Well, you know what he was ruled.

Kuenn stormed out, Warner was angry, you’ve heard this story before.

“I told [McKean] it was the second call he’d missed,” Kuenn said. “He didn’t say anything back so maybe he realizes he missed it too.”

It was one of those games. The Brewers should have won. Doc Medich was terrific through six innings and while he wasn’t great thereafter, he certainly didn’t get help from the umpires.

“We played our butts off,” Kuenn said, “but it’s a little tough when you battle 13 players. Maybe I shouldn’t say 13 players. Let’s say nine players and you can take your guess at the other four.”

Don Sutton is on the mound for his second Brewers start tomorrow.

Game Notes: The Brewers are now just three games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, their smallest lead since August 18. … Rollie Fingers will be examined on August 8 to see if he can travel with the team on the upcoming road trip. … Gorman Thomas missed the game after getting a shot in his right arm yesterday for inflammation. He is expected to play tomorrow. … Outfielder Bob Skube was added to the roster due to the injury to Thomas. … Jim Gantner sat out the game after being hit by a pitch on the wrist yesterday. He is day to day with swelling.

Brewers Reward Caldwell with Win in 11

June 17

Brewers 3, Tigers 2 (11)
Brewers now 32-29 (3rd)
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DETROIT — Heading into today’s game Mike Caldwell had allowed 15 runs (13 earned) covering his previous 9 2/3 innings. Today? Well, today was a bit different.

Heading into the bottom of the ninth of a 2-2 game, there was every reason to go to the bullpen. Caldwell had been masterful, allowing two runs on four hits through eight innings. The batters due up were Lance Parrish, Mike Ivie and Larry Herndon, all batters who had homered off of Caldwell during the past week (Parrish and Ivie today). Rollie Fingers and Jim Slaton were ready in the bullpen. Why not just be happy with the eight innings Caldwell provided?

But Harvey Kuenn stuck with him. Nine pitches later, the inning was over. Caldwell strolled out for the tenth. Another nine pitches later, the tenth inning was over.

It was an amazing display. In ten innings, Caldwell threw merely 103 pitches. And Dan Petry matched Caldwell, allowing only two runs while going 10 innings as well. Thankfully, the Brewers offense got Caldwell a win. He more than deserved it.

Ned Yost, who had pinch hit for Ted Simmons in the ninth, would get a second at bat in the 11th after strikeouts by Robin Yount and Cecil Cooper to lead off the inning. Yost lined a shot to deep left center over Kirk Gibson‘s head for his first major league triple. After Ben Oglivie was intentionally walked, Alan Trammell would boot a ground ball by Gorman Thomas that would allow the eventual winning run to score.

It’s a game like this one that makes a fan believe that the Brewers are for real. Terrific pitching and timely hitting against one of the league’s best teams on the road.

Could it be? Are the Brewers one of the league’s best teams?

Game Notes: Third base coach Harry Warner was ejected in the third inning after arguing with umpire Bill Haller about Tigers second baseman Lou Whitaker not being close enough to the bag when turning two … Ted Simmons broke an 0-for-14 slump with a single and a double.

Brewers Slip, Slide to Victory

June 11

Brewers 8, Tigers 6
Brewers now 29-27 (3rd)
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Pete Vuckovich — It wasn't one of Vuke's better games, but it was good enough to be his eighth straight win.

MILWAUKEE — Everyone leaving County Stadium was soaking wet tonight, but they were happy.

A steady drizzle fell in Milwaukee from the fourth inning on, and the wet conditions often affected the game. In almost every case, the rain benefited the Brewers.

But that didn’t come into play until the bottom of the seventh. The game was adventurous without the rain until then.

The first inning was an inning of dueling triples. Larry Herndon led off the game with a triple to right. He then scored on a groundout by Enos Cabell for the Tigers’ run in the top half. Paul Molitor led off the bottom half with a triple to left center. He then scored on a wild pitch by Petry to make it 1-1.

With two down in the bottom of the sixth and the Tigers leading 4-2, the Brewers rattled off three clutch hits (singles by Marshall Edwards, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount) to give the Brewers a 6-4 lead. The last run was after a puzzling decision by the Tigers to bring in Aurelio Lopez from the bullpen to intentionally walk Jim Gantner and load the bases for Robin Yount. Yount promptly made the Tigers pay.

The game got crazy starting in the top of the seventh. With one down, Lance Parrish lined a hit down the left field line. Ben Oglivie charged it and made a nice play, throwing a strike to Gantner at second. Parrish appeared to be out, but he was called safe. Gantner immediately erupted and spiked the ball into the ground. He was then tossed from the game by umpire Don Denkinger. It would become a key moment as Ed Romero took over at second base.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth of a 6-6 game and Molitor at first, Romero hit a harmless bloop single into center. Kirk Gibson charged the ball that died in the wet grass while Molitor rounded second and headed for third. Gibson fired to second to keep Romero at first, and the ball sailed over the heads of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker. First baseman Enos Cabell slipped and fell trying to get the ball, and it slowly rolled towards the Brewers dugout. Gorman Thomas playfully waved the ball in, and it obliged. Molitor was given home plate and Romero third. Romero then scored on a Robin Yount sac fly for the final Brewers run.

It was the eighth straight win for Vuckovich, but it’s unlikely he’ll keep the game ball for this one. He labored through eight innings, allowing six runs on 13 hits and six walks. He threw 847 pitches. Not really, but he threw a lot.

After losing three straight in which onlookers began doubting the power of a managerial change, the Brewers offense is back. The Brewers scored seven total runs during the three losses, but have scored more in each game since (nine runs yesterday and eight runs today).

This is more Harvey Wallbangers-like. Now if we can only get the pitching back on track.

Game Notes: There were 26 hits in the games plus three errors by the Tigers and one by the Brewers … The Brewers are now seven games back in the AL East … Cecil Cooper didn’t play because of what is being described as a right buttock injury.