Turning Points: Jake Bauers Returns, Brewers Take Advantage of Pirates' Boots

On a dark, gloomy, overcast night where the sky over the Roberto Clemente Bridge resembled the angry rumbling of clouds in the movie Ghostbusters, the Milwaukee Brewers overcame a slow start. They scored four runs late in the game to overcome the Pittsburgh Pirates and take a 5-2 win in Game One of the three-game series at PNC Park.

Here are three key turning points and other miscellany that you might find interesting or amusing.

Top of the First, William Contreras vs. Johan Oviedo, +14.4% Win Probability
In the top of the first inning, the Brewers had two runners on, courtesy of a lead-off single by Brice Turang and a full-count walk to Isaac Collins. Jackson Chourio struck out on a slider from Pittsburgh starter Johan Oviedo. William Contreras then hit a hard grounder that ate up third baseman Jared Triolo, allowing Contreras to reach first on the E5. Oviedo put on his big-boy pants and got Sal Frelick on a pop foul to first and then struck out Andrew Vaughn to end the threat.

Bottom of the Third, Quinn Priester vs. Tommy Pham, -13.4% Win Probability
The Buccos started the third inning against Brewers starter Quinn Priester on a Spencer Horwitz grounder to a diving Turang. The Brewers' second baseman rolled over and tried a sitting throw to first, but it sailed wide, allowing a generous infield single. Bryan Reynolds grounded to third, and Caleb Durbin threw to second for a 5-6 force-out. That brought up Tommy Pham. The left fielder is a Brewer killer, posting an .863 OPS against Milwaukee, including 12 career home runs. Pham drove a pitch down the left field line, knocking in Reynolds to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead. ‘The Reverend’ Priester struck out Andrew McCutchen and got Nick Gonzales to line out to Turang.

Top of the Sixth, Jake Bauers vs. Carmen Mlodzinski, +28.8% Win Probability
The longest inning—eight batters—is the one that put the Pirates away. Chourio grounded out on a bang-bang 3-1 play in which both Horwitz and pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski made nice plays to record the out. Contreras and Frelick singled and each advanced a base on a wild pitch. Vaughn struck out, but then Jake Bauers—on a 1-for-21 skid in his last 12 games—lined a 2-2 pitch to right field to knock in two runs. Durbin got a base hit and Joey Ortiz walked, but Turang grounded out to end the inning, which gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead.

Top Performers
1. Jake Bauers, 26.2% WPA: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
2. Quinn Priester, 22.5% WPA: 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 K
3. William Contreras, 20% WPA, 2-for-5

Not Great, Bob
1. Andrew Vaughn, -22.5% WPA: 1-for-5, 2 K
2. Jackson Chourio, -15.7% WPA: 0-for-5, 2 K

Bucco Boots
In addition to Triolo's error in the first, he committed another after moving to shortstop in the ninth. Nick Gonzales, who had moved from short to second the same inning, airmailed a throw over the first baseman's head that allowed Contreras to score the fifth and final run for Milwaukee.

Special ‘Wall of Fame’ honors go to the sideline reporter Tricia Whitaker, who, in a reprise of her earlier interview with Brewers manager Pat Murphy that made the ‘Pocket Pancake’ famous, has now added a ‘Pocket Quesadilla,’ complete with maple syrup from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Murphy and Whitaker both took a bite, and who knows, maybe another All-Star 'Pocket Meal' is born!

Bullpen Usage

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