Cain's glove was golden for Brewers again
PHOENIX – Much has been made about Milwaukee Brewers centerfielder Lorenzo Cain somehow making it this far into his career without a Gold Glove, and that does appear to be one of the great injustices in terms of individual awards in recent years.
With that in mind, the Brewers should keep a video of the team’s 5-1 victory over Arizona on Thursday night at Chase Field and send it to those who vote for the National League Gold Gloves after the season.
That’s how good Cain was in this game. And, for that matter, the entire Brewers’ defense came through for starter Zach Davies, who turned in the ultimate pitch-to-contact game with no strikeouts over his seven innings of work.
Afterward, Cain couldn’t remember where four home run-robbing catches in one season ranked in his standout career. But it’s difficult to believe he ever had more in one season, and there’s still more than two months left to play.
It’s getting to the point where you’re not surprised when Cain snatches a home run away, but that doesn’t make his catches any less sensational. Just ask Arizona’s Eduardo Escobar, who willingly tipped his batting helmet toward Cain after he committed thievery on Escobar's drive to right-center.
“You have trust in him; you know he’s going to make those types of plays,” Davies said. “He does things that other people can’t do. It’s impressive every single time he does it. I’m definitely thankful for that.
“The defense he has out there is far and away the best I’ve ever seen."
It was not much of a night at the plate for Cain, who went 1 for 4 with a single. But the run he stole in the first inning, combined with running, over-theshoulder catches of deep drives in the third and seventh innings, helped keep Davies locked in a pitching duel with Arizona’s Merrill Kelly, who allowed only three hits and one run with no walks over seven innings.
“Lorenzo had a fabulous night on defense,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Three balls over his head, tremendous plays.
“Robbing a home run and the out at the plate on a throw from an outfielder are such game-changers. It changes the momentum of games so much. It’s just a big play. It changes your dugout. It changes everything. Plays like that change outcomes at the end.”
The Brewers also turned three big double plays – two for Davies and one for reliever Jeremy Jeffress, with trouble brewing in the eighth. So, after weeks of ragged play in all three areas, the Brewers have put together a three-game winning streak by making plays when they had to be made.
“It’s a long season, so any way you can get a boost out there, you try to take advantage of it,” Cain said. “We robbed a home run and came right back and got a run (in the second). It was a big night for the boys.
“I don’t keep count. I’m just going to try to keep robbing them. Hopefully, I can keep making plays. Not only robbing home runs but running down balls on a daily basis. I try to be a playmaker out there. I’m not swinging the bat right now like I want to so I can at least go out and try to make some plays on the defensive side.”
On this night, every play counted until the Brewers finally broke through for three runs in the eighth off Diamondbacks reliever Joán Lopez, who entered the game with a 1.50 ERA in 42 appearances. Eric Thames got things started with a ground-rule double but the big hit was delivered by Arcia, who smacked a two-strike single up the middle to deliver the first run.
“Zach did a great job of pitching, kept us in the ball game, and the guys made a lot of defensive plays for him,” Cain said. “Then, at the end of the game, everybody came through and swung the bats. So, a big game by everybody.
“It was a tough game. Both pitchers did a great job keeping the hitters offbalance. But, at the end, we found a way to get it done. We’re going to enjoy tonight, move on tomorrow and try to keep putting up some ‘Ws.’ We definitely need to get going.”
Over on the Arizona side after the game, manager Torey Lovullo was singing the praises of Cain’s defense when he was informed the Brewers’ veteran had never won a Gold Glove.
“He has not won a Gold Glove?” Lovullo replied, incredulously. “Well, he should have won one tonight, that’s for sure.”
Yes, he should have.