Yankees

Brewers Complete Impressive Sweep of Yanks

September 19

Brewers 14, Yankees 1
Brewers now 89-60 (1st by 2.0 games)
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Gorman Thomas led the offensive assault with two doubles and his league leading 37th homer.

MILWAUKEE — Remember those four games in New York last week where the Brewers sustained three of their toughest losses of the season? Yeah, that’s kinda history.

Thanks to a nine-run eighth, the Brewers roasted the Yankees again to complete a three-game sweep in which they outscored humbled New Yorkers 34-5.

“This just shows we aren’t nervous,” said Gorman Thomas, who connected on two doubles and his league-leading 37th homer to lead the Brewers’ attack. “I know certain people have been saying that we’re feelin’ the pressure, that the noose is around our neck. This just shows we’re not feelin’ it. We know that pressure is put on yourself. There is no pressure at the top.”

It was merely a 5-1 Brewers lead until the eighth inning. The Brewers connected on seven consecutive hits (including four doubles and a home run) and eight consecutive baserunners before the first out was recorded by the third Yankees pitcher of the inning. Then, just as it seemed the Brewers would finally put the Yankees out of their misery, Gorman hit his two run homer.

The offense this season has been bordering on historic. The Brewers have a shot at becoming the first team since the 1936 Yankees to have five players drive in at least 100 runs. Cecil Cooper (114), Gorman Thomas (107) and Robin Yount (101) are already there, while Ben Oglivie (95) is certain to join them. Ted Simmons (86) is the only question mark.

Just as amazing, the top three in hits in the American League are all Brewers: Yount (194), Cooper (188) and Paul Molitor (183).

“It’s like trying to fight an octopus,” said Brewers starter Don Sutton, who missed the offensive barrage while he was icing his arm after coming out of the game. “You may be able to stop two, three or even four of the guys, but you know they’re never going to be able to stop them all. They just wrap those arms around you and you can’t shake loose from those tentacles.”

The Brewers may see the second place Orioles with the same level of frustration. Baltimore won again to remain two games back. The Brewers just can’t shake loose.

But now, of course, it gets interesting. Both teams have 13 games remaining, with seven games against each other. The Brewers next host Boston for three games before the Orioles come to town for three. Then it’s a brutal stretch to finish the season in which the Brewers play three in Boston and four in Baltimore.

This thing is far from over. It’s times like these that the Brewers need their closer, Rollie Fingers. He threw on the side again today, but without success.

“It was the same old thing,” Fingers said. “I stopped after 20 throws when the stiffness came. And the only good thing was I threw a little harder this time than [on September 17]. I had a little more velocity.”

Fingers will throw again in a couple of days. Doctors have said he’ll miss a minimum of six more games.

“It feels a little better every day but it’s slow,” Fingers said. “I am hoping to be ready by [September 24 or 25] for Baltimore. That gives me another six days.”

The team is 10-7 without Fingers in the bullpen, but the biggest test is yet to come.

Molitor Atones, Leads Crew to Win

September 18

Brewers 6, Yankees 4
Brewers now 88-60 (1st by 2.0 games)
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1982 Fleer Paul Molitor — Paul Molitor made up for a costly error by nearly hitting for the cycle.

MILWAUKEE — In the second inning, Paul Molitor booted a Lou Piniella ground ball. Piniella would eventually score to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Molitor would more than make up for that mistake.

In the bottom of the second, Molitor singled home Roy Howell with two outs to tie the game at two. After the Yankees retook the lead on a two-run error by Jim Gantner in the third, Molitor hit a two-run triple to tie the game again in the fourth.

Molitor wasn’t done. With the Brewers up 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth, he smashed a solo home run to left center. Molitor would walk his final time up, coming a double shy of the cycle.

Of course, that’s not all the multi-talented third baseman would accomplish on this day. Molitor also stole second in the second inning to tie him with Tommy Harper for the Brewers’ all-time record of 38 stolen bases (Harper set the franchise record of 73 the prior year with the Pilots).

“Stealing bases is great as it allows me to score more runs,” a team-first Molitor would later say, “helping the team win games.”

This has been a seasons of bests for Molitor. In addition to the 38 stolen bases, his 16 home runs is also a career high. He also has a career best 62 RBI and he scored his 122nd run today, a franchise record.

Today was an example of how leaders take control of a game on this team. Molitor made a costly mistake early. While he could have hung his head, he took it as an opportunity to step up on offense.

Whether it’s Molitor or Robin Yount or Cecil Cooper or Gorman Thomas or Ben Oglivie, a member of the Brewers offense is regularly stepping up when the team needs it. Today, it was Molly’s time to shine.

Brewers Mash Yanks in 14-0 Rout

September 17

Brewers 14, Yankees 0
Brewers now 87-60 (1st by 2.0 games)
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1982 Donruss Mike Caldwell — Mike Caldwell put on a show in a three-hit shutout of the Yankees.

MILWAUKEE — The last time the Brewers faced the Yankees was last week in the Bronx when Milwaukee lost three of four, including three of the toughest losses of the season. This time… was much different.

The Brewers jumped out to a 5-0 first inning lead on starter Stefan Wever when Robin Yount and Cecil Cooper doubled in a run before Gorman Thomas brought home three more with his league-leading 36th home run of the season.

It was a fun game for the Crew and their fans from that point forward. By the end of the third it was 9-0 and the Yankees were making no signs of putting up a fight.

Yount, putting together his closing arguments for AL MVP, went 4-for-5 with his career best 24th home run and four RBI. He now has 98 runs batted in on the season.

But while the offensive display was awesome, the story of the game — and possibly the season so far — was starting pitcher Mike Caldwell. Once seen as past his prime, a cancer on the team, and a pitcher who should be dumped for whatever they could get before Harvey Kuenn arrived, Caldwell now has 16 wins.

Caldwell’s won six in a row overall, but he’s also 12-3 lifetime against the Yankees. Not surprisingly, it is the highest winning percentage among any starting pitcher against these Yankees.

“My confidence is at an all-time high,” Caldwell said. “I am throwing good pitches, they are scoring runs and I am getting some breaks.”

After winning three of seven on the recent road trip, it was important to get off to a good start. But this?

“Everybody was starting to get down after the rough road trip,” Kuenn said. “By everybody I don’t mean the players but other people. I’ve said time and time again that these guys can come back. I think you’d have to say they came back in grand fashion.”

And it was good timing. The Baltimore Orioles, who are riding a 24-5 stretch to put pressure on the Brewers, finally lost today. It’s the first time the Brewers have picked up a game on the Orioles since September 8.

“I feel good about the way we’ve played lately,” Yount said. “If you look at the standings you would think we lost a big lead. I have to think the Orioles are frustrated after playing so well the last month and still being two games behind.”

So the Brewers get a little breathing room, even if temporarily. It won’t get any easier. After two games with the Yankees, the Brewers close out the season with 13 games against the second place Orioles and third place Red Sox, six at home and seven away.

The Brewers will need all of the room they can get. Not only is the schedule brutal, but Rollie Fingers revealed today that the soreness in his forearm may prevent him from pitching until the postseason.

Assuming, of course, that the Brewers get there.

Sutton, Bullpen Implode in Painful Loss

September 12

Yankees 9, Brewers 8
Brewers now 84-59 (1st by 3.0 games)
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Jamie Easterly was a big reason for today's horrible loss.

BRONX, NY — Yesterday’s 14-2 loss was considered the worst under manager Harvey Kuenn. Well, maybe it’s now the second worst.

This article could and should have been about how the Brewers hit back-to-back-to-back home runs for the third time this season. That was merely a footnote in this disaster.

The Brewers led the Yankees 8-2 midway through the sixth inning. Don Sutton, who had sparkled in his two prior Brewers appearances, was on the mound. There was no way they were giving away this game.

Unfortunately, it seemed the Brewers’ players were thinking the same thing. After scoring their eighth run in the fourth, they went scoreless on only two hits the rest of the way.

But an offense that scores eight runs gets a pass. Things got a little less comfortable when the Yankees scored three in the sixth to make it 8-5. But the eighth and ninth, innings typically reserved for closer Rollie Fingers with a three run lead, were the source of greatest concern.

Jamie Easterly relieved Sutton in the bottom of the seventh and struck out pinch hitter Lou Piniella to end the inning. The dependable Jim Slaton was warmed up and ready to pitch the eighth. But Kuenn stuck with the not-so-dependable Easterly.

“He was throwing pretty good but was a bit erratic,” Kuenn explained.

Fine. But Graig Nettles led off the bottom of the eighth with a home run to make it 8-6. With one down, Easterly walked Barry Evans to bring the tie run to the plate.

Time for a bullpen move? Hello? No?

Bobby Ramos then hit his second career home run to tie the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Jim Slaton finally came into the game and proved that he may not have been a superior option. He loaded the bases before giving up the game winning hit to Roy Smalley.

Clearly, the Brewers missed Rollie Fingers today, who is still out with a slight tear in his forearm and is out for an unknown amount of time. This is not the first time a healthy Rollie Fingers could have been the difference and it is unlikely to be the last.

“I don’t think about not having him,” Kuenn assured us. “Though I wish every day he would come in and tell me he was ready. We have other guys who can get the job done. I am sure of it.”

Well, I’m not so sure, Harvey.

The Orioles also lost so the Brewers remain up three games in the AL East. Tomorrow starts a three game series with the Tigers in Detroit.

Brewers Blown Out in The Bronx

September 11

Yankees 14, Brewers 2
Brewers now 84-58 (1st by 3.0 games)
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Jerry Augustine and the rest of the Brewers pitchers were awful today.

BRONX, NY — This is one of those games you don’t want to spend too much time on, so I won’t. Or I’ll at least focus on the negatives. Well, there are no positives.

The Brewers played like garbage from start to finish. Doc Medich, who has surprised many by pitching like an acceptable big leaguer, showed his true colors tonight. He couldn’t get an out in the second, allowing seven runs on five hits and two walks.

Sad.

Jerry Augustine, who was DFA’d and brought back but hasn’t pitched for the Brewers since August 17, reminded us why he was let go in the first place. He allowed three runs on four hits in three innings.

Sad.

Jamie Easterly, making his first appearance since July 7, highlighted what we didn’t miss: two runs on five hits in two innings.

Sad.

Dave Righetti pitched a complete game for the Yankees, allowing only five hits. His lone slip-up was a two-run homer by Mark Brouhard in the sixth after the regulars were pulled from the game.

It was a sad, sad display.

“This is a tough loss to swallow,” manager Harvey Kuenn said after the game, “but it happens to everybody. You have to swallow it and move on.”

Maybe, but while this is merely a blip on the radar for the offense, this Rollie Fingers-less bullpen is what is of grave concern to Brewers fans. Fingers was seen lobbing the ball in the bullpen before the game, but he still hasn’t thrown since September 2.

The longer Fingers is out, the more likely a repeat of this pitching disaster is to repeat itself.

And oh, by the way, the Baltimore Orioles won today to pull to within three games of the Brewers in the AL East. Move on? Maybe. But Brewers fans are approaching panic mode.

Brewers Win with Moore Offense

September 10

Brewers 5, Yankees 3
Brewers now 84-57 (1st by 4.0 games)
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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.