Brewers 1982

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

Ron Guidry

Brewers Win with Moore Offense

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Brewers 5, Yankees 3
Brewers now 84-57 (1st by 4.0 games)
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Charlie Moore
Charlie Moore came up big three different times.

BRONX, NY — Two words: Charlie Moore.

The Brewers struck first on this day with a run in the top of the opening inning, but things turned ugly quickly in the bottom of the frame. The first three Yankees reached base to load the bases. Mike Caldwell was lucky to allow only two runs.

But then… Charlie Moore.

Following two scoreless innings for both teams, Moore launched a solo home run to tie the game in the fourth. It remained that way until Jerry Mumphrey drove in a run with a double to right in the fifth to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

And then… Charlie Moore.

With runners at the corners in the sixth, Moore hit a drive to center that was deep enough to score Gorman Thomas and once again tie the game at three. It remained that way until the eighth.

And finally… Charlie Moore

With runners at the corners again, Moore hit a high chopper over third baseman Roy Smalley‘s head to score Don Money and knock starter Ron Guidry from the game.

“I looked into the dugout on my way to the plate,” Moore explained, “and they were calling for Smalley to come in. So, I drove straight into the ground and it got over his head. Had he been playing at normal depth that may have been a double play ball.”

Moore has gone 5-for-7 in the two games in New York to raise his average from .237 to .246. “It’s fun to find your hitting stroke in the middle of a pennant race,” Moore laughed.

Ned Yost would drive in one more that inning, but the Brewers had all the runs they needed.

Why? The unheralded hero in this game and this Brewers’ season, Mike Caldwell. After a rocky first in which he allowed two runs and threw 25 pitches, Caldwell would need only 75 more pitches to complete the game.

It was Caldwell’s 10th complete game of the season and he’s won eight of his last nine decisions to improve to 15-11.

The Brewers maintained a four game lead over the Baltimore Orioles, who also won, though they extended their lead over the Boston Red Sox to six.

Mike Morgan Owns Brewers Again

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Yankees 5, Brewers 3
Brewers now 42-32 (2nd)
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Moose Haas
Moose Haas couldn't get out of the first inning.

NEW YORK — Twenty-two year-old Mike Morgan may have entered today’s game 4-4 with a 4.28 ERA, but he is the Brewers’ cryptonite. And actually, his last start was also against the Brewers. He is 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA against non-Brewers teams.

Considering how hot the Brewers are, this is significant. Since Harvey Kuenn took over on June 2, the Brewers are hitting .296 with 45 home runs and 175 runs, averaging 6.7 runs per game. Ted Simmons‘ home run today tied a Major League Baseball record of 27 team home runs over a span of 13 games. Of their last 15 games, the Brewers have lost three times. Two of those losses were at the hands of Mike Morgan.

And considering the Brewers lambasted Ron Guidry and Tommy John in the first two games of this series (both pitchers had ERA’s of close to 3.00 entering their respective starts), it’s a bit puzzling that they can’t handle a pitcher like Morgan.

But they can’t. The Brewers have scored fewer than seven runs only twice during the past eight games. Each time, you guessed it, was against Morgan.

Meanwhile Brewers starter Moose Haas couldn’t get two outs in the first inning before allowing five runs. Of his last five starts, four have been disasters. While nearly everything seems to be going right at the moment, Haas is not.

But we’ll move on. It’s one game. We need to be realistic. On the road in New York, we can’t expect a sweep.

Meanwhile, the first place Red Sox lost to the Tigers today and remain two games up on the Brewers. Guess who is coming to Milwaukee tomorrow? That’s right, the Red Sox.

The biggest series of the season to this point is about to begin. Buckle up!

Game Notes: Jim Gantner, who has been nursing a sore shoulder, will attempt to throw tomorrow.

Brewers Pound Yankees, Guidry

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Brewers 11, Yankees 4
Brewers now 41-31 (2nd)
Box Score | Season Schedule

Cecil Cooper
Cecil Cooper smacked two more homers to pace the Crew.

NEW YORK — After the Yankees jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the third inning with ace Ron Guidry on the mound, things wouldn’t have looked good for most teams.

You know Ron Guidry. Since the start of the 1977 season, he came into today’s game with a 95-35 record and a downright silly 2.71 ERA. So it would be understandable if most teams would pack it in at that point.

But the Brewers aren’t most teams. They are Harvey’s Wallbangers. No lead is safe.

The Crew chipped away with a run on an RBI double by Don Money in the fourth, but that was just the opening act. In the fifth, the Brewers opened the flood gates on the Yankees ace and brought wrath he is not accustomed to experiencing.

The Brewers opened with consecutive singles by Paul Molitor, Robin Yount and Cecil Cooper to score the first run. After Ted Simmons grounded out, Gorman Thomas drew a walk to load the bases and Ben Oglivie singled home Yount and Simmons.

Four singles, three runs. That was all for Ron Guidry. But the Brewers weren’t done.

Don Money then singled home Gorman, and with runners at first and third Ed Romero dropped down a squeeze bunt that resulted in the sixth single of the inning that scored one more run. Charlie Moore then grounded out to drive in the sixth run of the inning to give the Brewers a 9-4 lead.

Wait, what happened to Harvey’s Wallbangers? Six singles including a squeeze bunt? Who are these guys?

Well, Cecil Cooper also hit two homers on the day, including a 420-foot shot to center in the sixth. Is that good enough?

There is no proper superlative to describe this offense right now. The Brewers have scored 45 runs on the five-game road trip against the Red Sox and Yankees, batting a ridiculous .337.

Mike Caldwell also deserves recognition for recovering from a slow start. He allowed four runs on five hits and three walks through the first three innings. From the fourth through seventh innings, he allowed no runs on five hits. Jerry Augustine then came on to pitch two innings of no-hit ball.

Ron Guidry stepped on the mound with an 8-2 record and 3.04 ERA today. The Brewers didn’t blink. After giving up eight runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings, Guidry left with a 3.57 ERA.

“Did George call and send Guidry down yet?” Rollie Fingers joked, referring to the impatient Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner. It was funny, only because such a reaction wouldn’t have been out of character. Last year’s AL Rookie of the Year Award winner, Dave Righetti, was recently sent to the minors after starting the season 5-5 with a typically acceptable 4.23 ERA.

By the time this series is over, George may send his entire pitching staff to the minors.

Game Notes: Pete Vuckovich was ejected from the dugout after arguing balls and strikes … The Brewers are now 18-7 under Harvey Kuenn and remain three games back of the Boston Red Sox … Jim Gantner, recovering from an injured shoulder, has been hitting well in batting practice and may be used as a pinch hitter if he isn’t put on the DL … Charlie Moore has started every game in right field on the current road trip … A Brewers fan who said he was assaulted by a security worker at County Stadium two years ago filed a suit of $125,000 against the team.