Brewers 1982

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

Dennis Eckersley

NL Dominates AL Again

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National League 4, American League 1
Box Score

Robin Yount
Robin Yount played the entire game, but went hitless.

MONTREAL — Considering the Brewers were represented in this year’s All-Star Game by four players (Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper, Ben Oglivie and Rollie Fingers), you’d think that at least one of them would provide us with some juicy memories.

Nope.

Instead, it was yet another relatively easy win for the National League, knocking off the American League for the 11th straight time and 19th of the last 20. It’s not even fair.

I could put you to sleep with details of Brewers exploits. Yount went 0-for-3 with a walk, but struck out to end the AL’s first inning rally with runners on first and third. Cecil Cooper recorded his first All-Star hit in that same first inning, but it was a soft chopper for an infield single. Ben Oglivie had one at bat and flied out to right. Rollie Fingers pitched a scoreless eighth, but allowed two hits.

Snore. At least this game didn’t matter.

After the AL took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Reggie Jackson that scored Rickey Henderson, the NL struck back with a two-out, two-run home run by All-Star Game MVP Dave Concepcion over the left field fence off of Dennis Eckersley.

“It was a slider up and in and I don’t think it broke,” said Concepcion. “I was able to hit it really good.”

Indeed. While the two runs were all the NL would need, they scored another on a sac fly… in the….

…snore…

I’m sorry. This is just getting to be such a tired story. Nineteen times in the last 20 games? Eleven in a row? Give me a freaking break. I’m tired of hearing about it. I’m tired of writing about it. It’s painful to watch.

“All of this stuff about the National League being better will probably come up again next year,” said Yount. “Hopefully, I’m here to listen to it.”

Hopefully.

Brewers Cooled off by Eck

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Red Sox 4, Brewers 1
Brewers now 44-33 (2nd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

Mike Caldwell
Mike Caldwell was good, but not good enough to be Dennis Eckersley.

MILWAUKEE — There can’t be many complaints about the Brewers these days, but if you’re looking for a reason to be negative you can focus on the team’s inability to complete a sweep. For the fourth straight series, the Brewers went into the final game with the ability to shut out the opposition. Each time, they lost.

Of course, the time before that they shut out the Tigers in four games. But again. This is just for you Debbie Downers out there who don’t like success.

Today’s game, though, was certainly out of character for this team. After hitting 35 homers in the previous 15 games during a record-setting stretch, Red Sox starter Dennis Eckersley baffled Brewers hitters all day. He held the Brew Crew to only one run on six hits, needing only 97 pitches to do it in a complete game.

This is the first time the Brewers had been limited to a run since May 22, 10 games before the managerial change. Prior to today, Harvey’s Wallbangers had averaged 8.7 runs during their last nine games. They had averaged 6.9 runs per game spanning a stretch of 23 games starting June 10.

But Dennis Eckersley isn’t scared of the Brewers. Now 9-6 overall this season, he is 11-4 in his career against Milwaukee.

The thing is, Mike Caldwell nearly did well enough to win this game. Three of the four runs scored on him came on rallies that started with the bases empty and two outs. Unfortunately, he couldn’t shut the door.

Sure, the Brewers didn’t take first place for themselves today. But they are now 17-8 against division rivals New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, three teams that were duking it out for first place when June started, while the Brewers watched from below.

This team is still on the rise. The Red Sox should consider themselves lucky that they left town with a win.

Next up is a two game series with the White Sox in Chicago starting tomorrow.

Game Notes: Prior to the game was the annual Father-Son/Daughter game at County Stadium. The kids won 34-0 to extend their winning streak to 13 games. … Today’s attendance of 35,947 was the largest 4th of July home crowd in Brewers history.