BOSTON BOO-BOOS
ASTROS TAKE GAME 1 FROM SLOPPY SOX
MILWAUKEE — The out-getters ran out of gas against the homerun getters. That’s postseason baseball in 2018 and the Brewers are trying to redefine the game, minimizing the importance of starting pitching. All pitchers are simply out-getters in their world.
The Brewers rely so heavily on the bullpen. But that bullpen finally cracked Saturday, taking the air out of Miller Park.
The Dodgers trailed 3-0 and could do nothing against Brewers starter Wade Miley, who pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball but was removed because Brewers starters rarely pitch even a full six innings.
Perhaps the Brewers just try to get the most out of what they have. Well, the Dodgers weren’t having it.
They scored two times in the seventh to close within a run as righthander Jeremy Jeffress surrendered a critical walk to Austin Barnes. Then in the eighth, Jeffress, who appeared to be worn-down, allowed an infield hit to Chris Taylor. Then the Dodgers’ red-bearded postseason hero Justin Turner struck once again, driving a deep home run to left on a 2-0 pitch to silence the crowd and lift the Dodgers to a stunning 4-3 win over the Brewers to even the series at 1-1.
The series shifts to L.A. for three games.
“We were in really good shape with the effort that Wade gave us,’’ Craig Counsell said. “He did more than we expected.’’
As for taking him out, Counsell said, “I thought he was going through the heart of the lineup for a third time. … The way we are going to use our pitching is that we are going to count on all these guys.’’
If they all pitch well it’s a victory. If not, it’s a crushing loss like Saturday. Miley allowed just two hits and did not walk a batter, but that was not good enough to remain in the game.
These days it’s a matter of what might happen instead of what is actually happening. That is the crazy culture baseball has created.
“I don’t think it’s ever easier,’’ Miley said of being removed while pitching a gem. “You want to be in the game but at the same time I think there is more understanding.’’
Before the series started I called a scout who has watched the Brewers all year and he said the “shine was about to come off the penny.’’ He felt the bullpen was about to have issues now that the series are best-of-seven.
The Brewers won the last eight games of the regular season and first four of the postseason, so they are doing something right. But this plan could blow up with over-usage.
The later out-getters could turn into October pumpkins.
The seeds for this Dodgers victory were planted in the 6-5 loss Friday night when Counsell had to use his left-handed superweapon Josh Hader for three innings to come away with the win. Not having Hader on Saturday had ramifications.
You do what you have to do to win a game in the postseason, but in the Dodgers clubhouse after that loss they felt as if they had cracked the Brewers’ bullpen code. The Dodgers scored three runs in the eighth and another in the ninth and left the potential tying run on third base when Turner was struck out for the fourth time to end the game.
This time, the ex-Met came through with more October magic on a misguided splitter.
The series is tied at 1-1, and the Brewers’ bullpen does not seem to be as invincible as it was in the threegame sweep of the Rockies, who were a worn-out team by the time they got to play the Brewers.
The Brewers have an off-day Sunday to allow the bullpen to refresh itself. You know that Hader will be waiting for the Dodgers if the Brewers manage to grab a lead.
“None of us have the right answer,’’ Counsell said. “In the end the players have to go out there and battle each other.’’
Noted Jeffress: “It’s intense baseball games man, they are going to be like this the rest of the postseason.’’
Indeed, until the last out-getter on the Dodgers or Brewers gets that final out.