Brewers are proving they do have enough pitching
The Brewers are the team that pundits insisted should have picked up some starting pitching in the off-season. That supposedly didn’t do enough to help their staff during the regular season, either.
The Brewers used a “bullpen game” in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Thursday, confounding those who questioned such unique tactics. And they pitched Jhoulys Chacín on short rest in Game 2 on Friday, certainly a recipe for disaster after using six pitchers the previous day.
And, oh yeah, the Brewers have used their pitching as the primary weapon in going up, 2-0, in the best-of-five series against the high-powered Colorado Rockies.
Just so we understand what is happening here, you don’t win 96 games in the regular season without a solid pitching staff. You don’t win 10 games in a row – the Brewers’ current streak – with offense only. And you don’t hold a previously potent attack such as Colorado’s to two runs over 19 innings by
sleight of hand.
“The story of the series so far is how we’ve pitched,” said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, summoning up the proceedings thus far quite nicely. "The pitching has worked together as a team as out-getters and done a wonderful job."
The Brewers’ 4-0 victory Thursday at Miller Park put them in commanding position in the series, though the Rockies’ best starters await in Games 3 and 4 at Coors Field. The offense finally broke through for three runs in the eighth inning, but it’s mostly been an exercise in frustration in terms of clutch hitting, keeping the pressure on the pitchers.
And the pitchers have been equal to the task. Making consecutive starts on short rest for the first time in his career, Chacín was not particularly sharp, allowing three hits and three walks in five innings, but the zero he put on the scoreboard over that stretch was all that mattered.
“If you go five innings and give up no runs, that exceeds expectations every day, for sure,” Counsell said. “He was magnificent. He got into a couple jams but as he got into those jams, he made great pitches. To (Trevor) Story, to (Nolan) Arenado, those were kind of his best at-bats. He got strikeouts in both scenarios there to two very good hitters.”
Counsell referred to an inning-ending strikeout of Story that stranded two runners in the first, and a three-pitch domination of Arenado that left two more on base in the third. One of the primary reasons the Brewers went after Chacín on the free-agent market last winter was his wicked slider that makes right-handed hitters look silly.
The Brewers held a scant 1-0 lead when Chacín exited, keeping the onus on the bullpen until the three-run eighth, which featured an RBI single by Game 1 hero Mike Moustakas and tworun hit by Erik Kratz, the 38-year-old journeyman having the time of his life. Things usually go well when Counsell turns the game over to his relievers, and that trend didn’t end.
Corey Knebel, whose return to glory in September galvanized an already stout pen, stretched his string of scoreless outings to an incredible 18, during which he has struck out 36 hitters in 19 innings. Joakim Soria continued his fine work with two huge strikeouts. Josh Hader pitched on consecutive days for only the sixth time, albeit for just one batter, Charlie Blackmon, who lined out.
Which brings us to Jeremy Jeffress, who allowed two runs in the ninth inning in Game 1 and had to pitch his butt
off to avoid blowing up completely, allowing the Brewers to escape in the 10th on Moustakas’ game-winning single. All Counsell asked Jeffress to do was forget that and save this game by covering six outs instead of three.
Jeffress followed orders, allowing a couple of harmless hits as the final “outgetter,” striking out three hitters and emitting a primordial roar upon getting the job done.
“We asked more tonight, with two innings,” Counsell said. “Before the series, I said this is a rested guy we’re going to need to carry a heavy load. The way the game played out, I thought he was capable of two innings tonight.
“Yesterday was not part of the equation for me. This guy is an all-star. He’s been one of the more dominant relievers in the league this year. There was no hesitation at all. He is a guy that we’ll need to count on and are going to need, to make a really good run.”
Afterward, Jeffress walked into the media interview room carrying a bundle of cuteness, 4-year-old daughter Jurnee. No matter the spelling, a daughter could not be more aptly named, considering the journey her father has made to get to this career highlight.
Of being sent back out there after nearly ruining Game 1, Jeffress said, “It felt great. It just shows the confidence the team, the manager, all the coaches have in me. You’ve got to have a shortterm memory in that bullpen, especially with these high-leverage games, and just have a different game plan and go right out.
“I can’t put into words, the confidence that Counsell has in me. I’m grateful. To see those two innings in front of me gave me even more confidence to know I can go out there and be myself and do what I’ve got to do. That fist pump (at the end) is to show you’re the passion I have for this game.”
If only this team had enough pitching, right? That’s what they’ve been hearing all year. And they beg to differ.