Brewers offense on a roll after Reds series
If hitting is contagious, the Milwaukee Brewers most likely have caught the bug from Eric Thames.
Getting at least one hit from every position player, they put the wraps on an impressive offensive series by sweeping the Cincinnati Reds with a 9-4 victory Wednesday at Miller Park.
Thames didn't homer for the first time in seven games against the Reds and actually left the game in the eighth inning with tightness in his left hamstring. But he still singled and scored in the first inning, extending his franchise record for runs in April to 27 and tying him with Ryan Braun for second-most runs scored in any month.
Thames also walked twice.
There were plenty of teammates behind him putting in work as well. Jett Bandy had a three-hit day. Orlando Arcia homered and doubled and drove in three runs. Jonathan Villar singled twice. And the old reliable Braun added a double, single and two RBI for an offense that racked up a season-high 14 hits.
Milwaukee closed the series having scored 29 runs on 33 hits, and they continue to lead the major leagues in homers, extra-base hits, total bases and slugging percentage while also taking over the lead in runs scored.
BOX SCORE: Brewers 9, Reds 4
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It's been an unexpected but exciting turn of events for Thames & Co.
"Seeing (hitting coach Darnell Coles) walking around, he's pumped," said Thames, who has been the story of the season in all of baseball so far with his .370 average, 11 homers, .904 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.393.
"His scouting reports help us out so much. Everybody's kind of getting hot right now. That's good. I've said it a thousand times. Our team doesn't depend on one three-run home run to win the game. Everybody strings together hits; that makes us dangerous.
"I'm trying to do things for them and pick them up. Hopefully, they'll pick me up as well. There will be times where I'll be 0 for 15, or I'll strike out in a big situation, and the guys behind me will pick me up."
The offense flowed from the very beginning on Wednesday, as the Brewers sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs as they knocked around Reds starter Rookie Davis. Seven players collected hits in all in the frame.
Predictably, Davis' stint became a short one. He surrendered another run in the second and two more in the third, with Arcia's two-run homer making it 8-1.
"On a day like today when you have a young pitcher on the mound for the other team, I think it's an important statement you can make to them where they just never get comfortable," manager Craig Counsell said. "They just are not allowed to get into a game. We did a great job.
"Our first eight guys had very productive at-bats, quality at-bats and did something positive with each at-bat. It is good to see. We’ve done a nice job of that against some young starting pitchers and some good starting pitchers, too.
"It's obviously a good formula for success."
Villar did a good job of getting on base early and setting the table for the meat of the order like Thames and Braun, but it was players like the No. 6 hitter Bandy and Arcia in the No. 8 spot, who also helped Milwaukee keep the pressure on Cincinnati and its young pitching staff.
Getting Arcia going would add even more balance to a lineup that's been mostly top-heavy in the early going.
"It's a nice game out of that spot, for sure," Counsell said. "Orlando doesn’t have to be the No. 1 offensive producer. He just has to carry his weight. A day like today, he adds something to the offensive mix and still plays the high-caliber defense he’s played all season.
"That will be fine. He’s doing fine. We’re scoring plenty of runs here."
Brewers starter Wily Peralta improved to 4-1 after a five-inning stint that saw him allow four solo home runs but also strike out a season-high-tying seven.
"It was a grind for Wily," Counsell said. "The four home runs obviously put runs on the board. His offspeed stuff was better today. The seven strikeouts were very good to see, but it was a little bit of a grind for him, for sure.
"He made some mistakes and they put some big swings on him."
The Brewers have their first day off since April 10 on Thursday and stand at 12-11. Counsell said the break comes at a good time for a team that has played a little above expectations.
"I think the guys are looking forward to an off day tomorrow, for sure," he said. "They deserve it. We’ll be cheering on the Bucks tomorrow, that’s for sure. It's a good opportunity for the guys and for us to go see them.
"We’re coming off a good series with a sweep of a team; that's always a good way to go. We kind of got on track at home a little bit. I think we let some of those games slip away against St. Louis, so to get on track and capture all these games was a good sign."