Sogard just keeps doing it
Second baseman leads with bat, glove
“You’re doing it!” That is the catchphrase of Milwaukee Brewers utility player Eric Sogard, something he says to teammates when they are on a roll.
These days, Sogard hears that platitude in the clubhouse more often than he offers it.
The bespectacled mighty mite was at it again Thursday afternoon, igniting the offense in the leadoff spot and also turning in a defensive gem that helped the first-place Brewers escape with a 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh at Miller Park that salvaged a split of the fourgame series.
“He just keeps doing it,” said manager Craig Counsell, whose resilient club bounced back with two victories after dropping the first two games against the Pirates. “He’s impacting us from both sides of the ball.
“His offensive numbers are eye-popping for sure. The amount, the frequency he’s getting on base is incredible. But his defense at second base has been outstanding. He puts his glove on the ball and something good happens.”
With two doubles, a single and two runs scored, Sogard continued his astounding productivity since coming up from Class AAA Colorado Springs on May 12. Other than batting .366 with a .466 on-base percentage and 22 runs scored in 35 games, he isn’t making much of an impact.
This from a 30-year-old player who had a lifetime batting av-
erage of .239 with a .295 OBP before having knee surgery and missing all of 2016.
“I’m having a blast, just being around these guys every day,” Sogard said. “It’s a fun group of guys to battle with each day. We fight every day and have fun doing it.”
Sogard also turned in the defensive play of the game, smothering a carom shot by Gregory Polanco off the glove of first baseman Eric Thames in the eighth inning in shallow right field and throwing out Adam Frazier, trying to score from second base. Catcher Jett Bandy made a diving tag after taking the throw on the first-base side of the plate, and the call held up to a video review.
“I was pretty sure I got him,” Bandy said. “I thought it was a good call.
“(Sogard) is just doing it. That’s what he says all the time but we say it to him now.”
Sogard had plenty of company in terms of performances that made a difference. Closer Corey Knebel finished the game and made some history, topping the modern record of Aroldis Chapman by recording at least one strikeout in his first 38 appearances to begin the season.
Right-hander Chase Anderson also continued his string of strong starts, limiting the Pirates to two hits and two runs over six innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. In five starts in June, Anderson has fashioned a 1.60 earned run average with 32 strikeouts in 332⁄3 innings.
And third baseman Travis Shaw continued his remarkably consistent season, contributing a home run, two doubles and three RBI, losing a fourth on a base-running mistake by Domingo Santana on a seventh-inning two-bagger he thought cleared the fence. Shaw’s production (.298, 14 HRs, 51 RBI) has been even more compelling of late with the backdrop of newborn daughter Ryann’s open-heart surgery.
“I think all year, he’s just been a rock for us,” Counsell said. “He’s in a good spot, playing-wise, and he’s doing an outstanding job with everything going on. I really think the park is the easy place for him, a place he’s able to come do his job and he’s doing it really well.”
When the Brewers are at home, Shaw and wife Lindy spend every waking hour outside of the ballpark at the hospital, to be with their daughter. He admitted that made it tougher to get on a plane Thursday evening and head to Atlanta with the club.
“Going on the road, especially now, is hard,” Shaw said. “But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
“Everything is being put into perspective. Here is kind of a getaway for a few hours. Sometimes, I don’t know how I’m doing it or what I’m thinking about.”
Anderson, whose wife Anna delivered a healthy son, Robert, last fall, got emotional when talking about the focus that Shaw has displayed in very tough circumstances.
“I get the chills talking about it,” Anderson said. “I can’t even imagine what he’s going through right now. Then, he goes on the baseball field and takes all his anger out on the baseball, which is impressive. There are no words to describe it.
“It’s really cool to see what he’s doing, and we just continue to pray for his little girl.” BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
Beyond first-round pick Keston Hiura, the Brewers announced the signings of Chipola (Fla.) College RHP Bowden Francis (7th round), Ventura College RHP Austin Rubick (20th) and UC Santa Barbara infielder Kenny Corey (36th).
The Brewers also signed six more undrafted players – UC Irvine C Alex Guenette, Florida Southern RHP Cameron Hanes, Menlo College SS Julian Jarrard, Illinois 1B Patrick McInerney, LSU RHP Brandon Texiera and Stanford RHP Tylor Thorne.
Leftfielder Ryan Braun and second baseman Jonathan Villar went to Grand Chute to begin minor-league rehab stints with Class A Wisconsin on Thursday. The only problem was the Timber Rattlers’ game against Kane County was postponed due to rain. STAT SHEET
Eric Thames snapped an 0-for-15 drought with a RBI single in the first. Thames entered the game with a .847 OPS at home and 1.116 OPS on the road.
Bandy collected a badly needed hit with one down in the sixth inning. He was in a 0-for-24 drought and overall 1for-38 slump. TAKEAWAY
The Brewers just keep bouncing back from tough circumstances. They played two fairly flat games to open the series against the Pirates, then bounced back with two victories to split the four games. Nothing seems to get them down for long. RECORD
This year: 40-35 (21-22 home; 19-13 away)
Last year: 34-41 ATTENDANCE Thursday: 28,428 2017 total: 1,217,925 (28,324 avg.)
Last year: 1,208,214 (28,098 avg.) NEXT GAME
Friday: Brewers at Braves. 6:35 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Jimmy Nelson (5-3, 3.28) 2.92) vs. Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz (4-5, 4.26) TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: 620-AM.