The Brewers came into today’s game against the Kansas City Royals winless, and with a rotation decimated by injuries. Milwaukee had given up double-digit runs in each of the three previous games and desperately needed someone to step up and deliver a quality start.
Enter 26-year-old Chad Patrick, making his first start as a big leaguer. Patrick went 4 2⁄3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out five. He showed impressive command of his pitches, painting the corners and getting Royals hitters to swing and miss consistently.
Patrick — who had a great season last year in Triple-A, winning International League Pitcher of the Year — should get another chance to prove that he can be a big-league starter this Sunday against the Reds. The Brewers need pitchers right now, and Patrick showed more than enough potential for Milwaukee to give him a shot while the rotation gets healthy.
When Patrick exited the game with two on and two out, Jared Koenig got the Royals’ Michael Massey to ground out to end the inning. Koenig was pulled for Abner Uribe one inning later after getting into his own two-on, two-out jam. Uribe — making his season debut — struck out Maikel Garcia to get out of the inning. Koenig, Uribe, Joel Payamps and Trevor Megill allowed just one combined hit in 4 1⁄3 innings after Patrick’s exit.
Brewers’ fans worried by the rough start probably feel a bit better after a four-hit shutout. In order to withstand the myriad injuries plaguing the rotation, Milwaukee needs guys like Patrick to be able to step up and give them five solid innings a week. If the Brewers can continue to get quality starts from their Triple-A and depth arms (Logan Henderson is another name to watch), they should be able to remain playoff contenders until their rotation gets healthy.
The pitching staff may have been the reason Milwaukee was able to snap their four-game losing streak, but they wouldn’t have been able to do so without run support. Eric Haase broke a 0-0 tie in the third by taking Michael Lorenzen 420 feet to left field.
Haase started at catcher today partially due to his familiarity with Patrick, whom he caught last year with Triple-A Nashville. Haase certainly made the most of his opportunity, looking good both at and behind the plate. He will be the backup catcher until Brewers No. 1 prospect Jeferson Quero is ready, so hopefully he can continue to play well in his spot starts.
Brice Turang was on base all day, going 3-for-4 with three singles and a run. Turang continuing to produce from the leadoff spot will be huge, especially when Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and William Contreras are in midseason form. Speaking of which, Yelich had a home run and two RBIs today, while Chourio made a beautiful catch in right to rob Salvador Perez of extra bases.
Oliver Dunn also flashed the leather with this diving stop in the second:
The Brewers will look to make it two straight wins in tomorrow’s rubber match against the Royals. Freddy Peralta will take the mound for Milwaukee, facing off against the Royals’ Cole Ragans in a battle of aces. The game will be televised on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and broadcast via radio on the Brewers Radio Network, with the first pitch scheduled for 12:10 p.m. CT.
