Houser keeps streak going by delivering a gutty start
The Milwaukee Brewers have been looking for pitchers to help fill the gaps in an injury-riddled starting rotation and Adrian Houser took a big step forward Saturday night.
Overcoming a brief spell of illness in the first, Houser pitched six strong innings, allowing only three hits and one run while striking out a careerhigh 10 hitters to spark the Brewers to a 3-2 nail-biter over the Texas Rangers at Miller Park, their fifth victory in a row.
Houser, who was 0-5, 6.82 in his previous eight starts, came out firing pitches by hitters, striking out ShinSoo Choo and Danny Santana to open the game. He then muffed an easy bouncer by Elvis Andrus for an error, and next thing you knew, Houser was crouching behind the mound, vomiting.
After Houser drank some water and recovered, and a grounds crew member did a clean-up on Aisle 1, play con
tinued, with Rougned Odor becoming the third strikeout victim of the inning. It was reminiscent of June 17 of last season when Houser was called up from the minors that morning and entered the game in the eighth inning against Philadelphia on a hot, humid day and was soon vomiting on the mound.
Houser continued to breeze through the early innings but it didn’t go smoothly at all for Texas starter Pedro Payano. He had issues with his command from the outset, helping the Brewers load the bases in the first with a walk and hit batter before uncorking a wild pitch that allowed Trent Grisham to score the first run of the game.
Payano issued two more walks in the second as the Brewers again loaded the bases with two down but escaped by retiring Mike Moustakas on a fly to shallow right. But Keston Hiura made it a 2-0 game when he led off the bottom of the third with his 14th home run of the season, smacking a 1-0 fastball out to left.
Payano escaped further damage that inning when rightfielder Nomar Mazara made a perfect throw to the plate, nabbing Ryan Braun trying to score from second on Lorenzo Cain’s bloop hit with one down.
The Brewers boosted their lead to three runs after lefty Brett Miller replaced Payano in the fourth. With one down, Grisham, Yasmani Grandal and Moustakas collected consecutive singles to send home a run, making it 3-0.
Through the first four innings, not only did the Rangers not collect a hit off Houser, they didn’t get a ball past the infield. Mazara walked to open the fifth and Logan Forsythe singled into the hole at short, Mazara beating the throw to second.
After a couple of fielder’s-choice grounders, Houser struck out pinch-hitter Willie Calhoun to end the inning.
The Rangers finally got on the board – and got a ball beyond the infield – when Danny Santana homered with one down in the sixth to cut the Brewers’ lead to 3-1.
Lefty Drew Pomeranz replaced Junior Guerra with one down and immediately found big trouble. Lefty-hitting Shin-Soo Choo greeted him with a home run, then Pomeranz walked Santana and Andrus. It would have been three walks in a row but Odor struck out on a high 3-2 fastball with the runners going and Andrus was thrown out by Grandal to end the inning.
Matt Albers recorded the final three outs to pick up the save, his third of the season.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS
Claudio keeps ticking: Left-handed reliever Alex Claudio made his 62nd appearance, most in the majors. He has had some rough spots this year but entered the game with a 2.39 ERA over his last 32 outings. Claudio allowed a hit to the only hitter he faced, Mazara, leading off the ninth.
Nelson to rejoin Missions: Righthander Jimmy Nelson, who has been on rehab assignment with Class AAA San Antonio while recovering from shoulder and elbow issues, rejoined the Brewers for a few days to do workouts. Counsell said Nelson would return to the Missions’ bullpen but instead of pitching on scripted days, be ready to work as relievers normally do, on call. Nelson recently was transferred to the 60-day DL and is not eligible to be activated until Aug. 25.
Davies making progress: Righthander Zach Davies, placed on the injured list on Monday with back spasms, had a pain-free bullpen session Friday and will throw again Sunday. If he continues to make progress, Davies will be activated and rejoin the starting rotation on the next trip, either in Washington or St. Louis. “It’s just being pain-free and comfortable with everything he’s doing,” Counsell said.
Hader unavailable for rest of series: Counsell would only say closer Josh Hader was unavailable Saturday but he also is expected to be unavailable Sunday after throwing 44 pitches Friday night in the Brewers’ 6-5 victory. Hader, who recorded five outs, hadn’t thrown that many pitches in a game since letting 49 fly in 22⁄3 innings against Cincinnati on Sept. 26, 2017. In the top of the ninth, Hader allowed a game-tying homer to Elvis Andrus, his 12th allowed this season, and sixth since July 1.
Don’t dilly-dally Sunday: The Brewers encourage fans not to hesitate to enter the park Sunday for the series finale, a sellout for Josh Hader Bobblehead Day. Gates will open 30 minutes earlier than usual (11:10 a.m.) – two hours before first pitch – to help fans get through MLB-mandated security screening. Fans are encouraged to leave bags and backpacks behind because they take much longer to screen.
RECORD
This year: 62-56 Last year: 66-52
ATTENDANCE
Saturday: 41,903 (11th sellout) This year: 2,078,070 (35,222 avg.) Last year: 2,045,530 (34,670 avg.)
COMING UP
Sunday: Rangers at Brewers, 1:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Jordan Lyles (7-7, 4.97) vs. Texas LHP Mike Minor (10-6, 3.06). TV: FS Wisconin. Radio: AM-620.