Fun finish to a surprising season
ST. LOUIS – The Milwaukee Brewers would rather have been playing for a wild-card berth on the final day of the season. but minus that incentive they at least had some well-deserved fun.
After weeks of grinding with hopes of making the postseason, only to be eliminated the previous day, the Brewers topped the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-1, at Busch Stadium behind the efforts of three rookies — right-hander Aaron Wilkerson, outfielder Brett Phillips and first baseman Jesús Aguilar.
Wilkerson picked up his first major-league victory with seven terrific innings (two hits, one run), and Phillips and Aguilar accounted for five runs by blasting big home runs. Wilkerson subbed for Zach Davies, who was rested after the Brewers were eliminated from the wild-card race with a tough 7-6 loss Saturday.
A September call-up who fared poorly in his only other start in a costly loss in Pittsburgh, Wilkerson allowed no hits until the sixth inning.
“It was good for the team to end on a good note,” said Wilkerson, who earlier pitched seven no-hit innings in the Pacific Coast League playoffs for Class AAA Colorado Springs against St. Louis’ Memphis affiliate.
“It’s almost unreal right now, my first majorleague victory. It’s just setting in. They actually told me yesterday I’d be starting if we didn’t have an opportunity for the wild card.”
It was a day to have some fun, and shortstop Orlando Arcia and utility man Hernán Pérez found unique ways to do so. Arcia challenged St. Louis pitcher Carlos Martinez to a standoff on their respective sidelines after the national anthem, each refusing to leave the field.
Martinez went as far as using an umbrella to shield the sun, while Arcia put on third base coach Ed Sedar’s protective helmet with hopes the umpires would think he belonged near that coaching box. With the game about to start, Martinez flinched first and moved toward his dugout, and Arcia won the challenge.
Pérez, who has played every position in the majors other than catcher, opened the game at third base but switched with shortstop Eric Sogard after one inning. Pérez hoped Counsell would relent and allow him to keep changing positions, perhaps even catching a bit, but the manager nixed that idea.
“Because I wanted to win the game,” Counsell said with a big smile. “He was in a squat in front of the coaches’ locker room door (before the game). He was in a squat in front of my office. He was pushing for it.”
The victory allowed the surprising Brewers to finish 10 games over .500 at 86-76, a far better record than anyone expected from a rebuilding team. But after falling just shy of the postseason, Counsell tried to keep things in perspective.
“We fell short,” Counsell said. “That doesn’t take away that this was a good season, because this was a good season. It was fun being around these guys. We enjoyed each other’s company, and I think it helped us play well.”
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
As might be expected from the way he struggled at the plate over the final weeks, Ryan Braun revealed he was not healthy. With most of his upper body covered in heat wraps Sunday morning, he declined to go into all of his ailments but did say his right wrist hurt to the point of making it difficult to drive the ball.
“Anything with your hand or wrist, it’s going to impact your bat path,” said Braun, who had only four hits in his last 26 atbats (.154). “I wasn’t able to stay through the ball. As a hitter, you always try to make adjustments. I was trying to find it and was unable to find it.”
It was a tough year for Braun, who missed more than a month in the first half with two DL stints with a calf strain. Also given sporadic days off by Counsell, he played in only 104 games, batting .268 with 17 home runs, 52 RBI and .823 OPS.
“A lot of times, those things come as you get older,” he said. “I’d be naïve to assume that age isn’t a part of the challenge of trying to get through a 162-game season. It’s definitely harder at 33 than it was at 23.
“You try to assess everything, figure out if there are adjustments I can make to my routine to put me in a better position to stay healthy and be successful. My expectation is to come back next year and be healthier, and be a better player.”
STAT SHEET
The Brewers led the National League with 128 stolen bases and tied the Mets for the league lead with 224 home runs, marking the second time in franchise history they led their league in both categories. In 2012, they led the NL with 202 homers and 158 steals.
TAKEAWAY
For the first time all season, the Brewers played a game with no playoff implications. The Cardinals had been in that mode for a few days, so it was no surprise that backups saw most of the action and players took few pitches. In essence, it was an exhibition game.
RECORD
This year: 86-76 (46-38 home; 40-38 away) Last year: 73-89