Sunday Turning Points: Masterful Miz, 414 Start, Four Hits For Vaughn

[Michael Trzinski]

Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

In a pre-game chat with Brock Beauchamp, I commented that Jacob Misiorowski needs to stop clowning around on the field and get back to pitching; that I hoped Jake Bauers would maintain his hot streak; and that Andrew Vaughn needs to 'step up a bit.'

Check, check, and check!

After the Brewers scored four runs in the first inning off Pittsburgh über-prospect Bubba Chandler, the Miz walked the first two batters to begin the home first. Any chance the Pirates had was dashed when pitching coach Chris Hook came out to have a chat with his young phenom. One batter later, the Brewers infield turned a twin-killing to get out of the inning unscathed. The Buccos did score a run in the second but after that, Misiorowski dialed his pitching amp up to '11' as he retired 15 out of the 16 batters he faced in the next five frames, including 13 in a row in a seven-inning outing that was his longest in the big-leagues.

Bauers had struggled coming into this series, but went 6-for-12 with a double, home run, and six RBI in three games in Pittsburgh. Welcome back, Jake!

Vaughn had one of the most scintillating starts ever for a Brewer, batting .343/.403/.648 in his first 29 games, during which Milwaukee went 25-4. Lately though, he had cooled down, slashing just .219/.286/.246 since then. He has showed some signs of breaking out of his funk, with a pair of three-hit games in the last week. But it didn't seem like he was doing that well. Today, that changed. Vaughn went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI in the win that stretched Milwaukee's NL Central lead to 7.5 games over the Cubs, who lost to the Nationals 6-3 today, courtesy of a five-run ninth off Cubs flamethrowing closer Daniel Palencia.

Oh yeah...if you looked at the line score for the first three innings for Milwaukee, it read 4-1-4. And anybody in Milwaukee knows what that means. Is it a sign from above? Only if you are a Brewers fan.

Here are the three top key plays and the Sunday storylines.

Top of the First, Jake Bauers vs. Bubba Chandler, +13.4% Win Expectancy
It seems like Bauers is always involved in one of the key plays for Milwaukee. Chandler, another one of the great young Pirate pitching prospects, was in a jam in the first inning of his first MLB start. Brice Turang and Isaac Collins both took 100-mph fastballs the opposite way for base hits before William Contreras drew a full-count walk to loads the bags. Up stepped Bauers, who smacked a 3-1 pitch down the first base line past a diving Spencer Horwitz. Two runs scored and the Brewers never looked back. 

Bottom of the First, Nick Gonzales vs. Jacob Misiorowski, +8.6% Win Expectancy
As mentioned previously, the Miz ran into trouble from the jump. He walked Jared Triolo and Horwitz on 12 pitches total. Captain Hook came out for a heart-to-heart with Miz, who gulped and nodded his head. 'Yes sir.' Brewer killer Bryan Reynolds forced Horwitz at second but reached on an FC. It didn't work quite as well with Nick Gonzales. The Pirate second baseman hit a two-hopper to Caleb Durbin at third. Five seconds later, the official scorekeeper wrote a 5-4-3 double play in the scorebook and the inning was over. And as far as The Miz was concerned, so was the game. 

Top of the Third, Blake Perkins vs. Bubba Chandler, 5.5% Win Expectancy
The Brewers led 5-1 after two innings and were beating up on Chandler. Bauers walked and Vaughn singled to begin the third before Durbin struck out. Blake Perkins then proved that he is not just a pretty defensive face as he ripped a long liner over left fielder Ji Hwan Bae that bounced off the fence. Bauers scored and Vaughn moved to third. The Brewers would tack on another three runs in the inning and the game was over, the wind completely out of the Pirates sails.

Top Performers
1. Jake Bauers, 13.9% WPA: 2-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI
2. Andrew Vaughn, 7.5% WPA, 4-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI

Sunday Storylines
How Rude!
Roy Ruben Chandler, better known as Bubba, was making his first start in the bigs against the Brewers. Chandler had made three relief appearances during his rookie season, coming in as the seventh overall prospect as listed by MLB.com.

Milwaukee did not care. In 2.2 innings, Chandler made 68 pitches and allowed nine hits, nine runs, and three walks while striking out three. Welcome to ‘The Show,’ Bubba.

The Rock Rules
Today was the 67^th birthday of the former Brewer and current Brewers announcer Bill Schroeder. One of his favorite sayings is ‘It’s gravy day!’ Not exactly sure what that means. Maybe Tim Dillard can tell us.

Feeling Left Out
Everyone in the Brewers starting lineup had at least one hit--except for third sacker Caleb Durbin, who went 0-for-5, including three strikeouts and grounding into a double play. But he did play solid 'D' at third base.

Next Up
Three games at Texas against the Rangers. 

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[Profbratsch]

If I were to venture a guess-and if Rock is thinking about life-each day given to us at that age is a blessing. 

[MattK]

Thought Gravy Day was when you already had won the series, no?