There was a moment in the fifth inning of this game, with the Brewers leading by 10 runs, when I questioned whether or not MLB should consider a mercy rule to put Tigers fans specifically out of their misery.
Are crazy comebacks possible? Sure. Are they incredibly fun to watch? Absolutely. Was one going to happen in this game? Mmmmm, no.
I don’t even want to recap this game because it was so miserable to watch I don’t want to force any of you to go through it, but here we are.
The pitching matchup was Reese Olson up against Tobias Myers.
In the first inning, Christian Yelich drew a two-out walk, but the Brewers did not score. This might be the only inning where that sentiment remains true. Matt Vierling kicked off the home half with a single, then he got picked off at first by the pitcher. Let that just set the tone for how this evening unfolded.
Sal Frelick opened the second inning with a single, Rhys Hoskins followed that with a double. With one out, Joey Ortiz singled to score the two baserunners. Blake Perkins then tripled, scoring Ortiz. Brice Turang then singled to score Perkins. Yelich got a two-out single, then successfully stole second. But the Brewers had to settle for five runs in the second. The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom half.
A rare 1-2-3 for the Brewers took them through the third. Justyn-Henry Malloy drew his first major league walk, and as a side note he’s now wearing jersey number 44 to honor another Henry: Henry Aaron. Three outs followed, leaving Malloy on first.
Joey Ortiz started things off right away in the fourth with a single. Perkins singled, but the Brewers lost a baserunner as Ortiz tried to stretch it out to third but got tagged out. Brice Turang doubled, then William Contreras doubled to score Perkins and Turang. Yelich singled, then Sal Frelick singled to score Contreras. Brewers were up 8-0 after four. That was blessedly it for Olson for the night who went 4.0 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 6 K on 89 pitches. In the Tigers’ half, Wenceel Perez walked, and that was it.
Beau Brieske came in for the fifth, and gave up a walk to Jake Bauers. Perkins then tripled to score Bauers. A Turang single then brought Perkins home. Brewers up 10-0. Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom half.
Yelich singled to start the sixth, followed by a Willy Adames walk. Thankfully Brieske cut the danger off at the knees and got the next three outs in order. Unfortunately, the Tigers did nothing to gain any ground in the bottom half, going down in order.
I think at this point we just need to acknowledge that these Brewers are just really, really good, and there’s a reason they’re so far ahead in the NL Central. Anyway, Will Vest was in for the seventh, he gave up one single to Turang, but no runs scored. The Tigers were three-up, three-down in the bottom half of the inning.
Tyler Holton was the next new pitcher for the Tigers, and started out by hitting Yelich with a pitch. A popout and double play ended the inning scoreless. In the bottom half Malloy got another walk, but that was it.
Position Player Pitching alert as Zach McKinstry came in to pitch. If it’s going to be a bad game at least we can have a fun moment. He got the three outs he needed and gave up no runs, so that’s good! In the Tigers’ last stand, Matt Vierling walked, then pitcher Zach McKinstry singled.
Final: Brewers 10, Tigers 0