Feliz, Braun feel pain
Once again, closer allows home run
It was as compelling a game as we’ve seen at Miller Park for some time, and the Brewers had lots to be excited about except the finish.
But, beyond the disappointing 4-1 loss to Boston under an open roof Thursday afternoon, the Brewers emerged with two concerning issues: the health of Ryan Braun and the volatility of Neftali Feliz.
Already hampered by a lingering forearm issue, Braun sat out the series finale with a left calf strain, which was serious enough to warrant an MRI. Afterward, it was easy to ascertain that Braun was headed for the 10-day disabled list.
“I think we’ll probably have more tomorrow,” Braun said, referring to the
upcoming player move.
Braun couldn’t recall a single moment or play that might have led to tightness during Tuesday’s game that progressed to a strain Wednesday. But he can’t run or throw properly now, so it’s time to step aside and do some healing. Braun said the calf strain is “nowhere near as bad” as the one that has sidelined pitcher Junior Guerra for five weeks but it is enough to warrant some down time.
“At some point, the smart decision becomes to not allow it to become significantly worse,” Braun said. “That was the way it went down. I’ll try to stay positive, get treatment and hope it gets better as quickly as possible.
“If you guys watched Tuesday or Wednesday, I still can’t really throw much. The combination of the two makes it challenging when I can’t really run or throw. Hopefully, if I get a little down time, I’ll be able to get back to full strength, throwing and running.”
Time should do the trick for Braun but the answer might not be as easy
with Feliz, who can’t keep the ball in the park. The Brewers signed Feliz to a $5.35 million free-agent contract over the off-season to be their closer and he has converted eight of nine save opportunities.
But Feliz also has become a liability, particularly when used in the ninth inning of tied games. Sadly, the threerun homer he surrendered to red-hot Mookie Betts to lose the game was almost predictable, considering previous outings.
It was the fifth home run allowed in only 16 innings by Feliz, who is 0-4 with a 6.19 ERA in 18 appearances. The Brewers knew home runs were a problem for Feliz last season in Pittsburgh (10 in 532⁄3 innings), but nothing like this.
It was striking to see the difference in the two closers in this game. Desperately wanting to salvage a game in the series, Boston manager John Farrell summoned Craig Kimbrel in the eighth and he escaped a jam with a pair of strikeouts, then whiffed all three batters in the ninth. Kimbrel has a 1.15 ERA in 16 games with 31 strikeouts in 152⁄3 innings with one homer allowed.
Brewers reliever Corey Knebel (29 strikeouts
in 18 innings) is throwing the ball so well – and was electric again when he had to be against the Red Sox – that it would be an easy decision for Brewers manager Craig Counsell to give him the closer’s job. But Feliz still would be counted on to pitch at some points of games because you don’t dump a $5 million salary at this point.
“Nefty is struggling right now,” Counsell said. “We’ve got to get him on track. Save situation, nonsave situation, it’s a tie ball game in the ninth. A big spot. We’re not playing for saves. We’re playing for wins.
“Some walks to leadoff hitters are getting him in trouble. We’ve got to find a way to get him on track.”
After hitters ruled the first two games, the pitchers had their turn in the finale. Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez was excellent, and Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson made plenty of big pitches when necessary. Knebel then did his best Houdini impression by slipping free of the shackles of a second-andthird, no-out jam in the eighth.
But that game is done. The season moves on for the Brewers. It's time for Ryan Braun to heal and Neftali Feliz to stop giving up homers.