Snake Pit Sim Season: 5/9 - Ugliness Abounds

This game was less about the Brewers winning the game than it was about the Brewers simply losing it less. Both starters were out of this game before pitching five inning. Luke Weaver managed two more outs than his counterpart, going a whopping 4 ²⁄₃ innings. The Brewers also committed two errors on the afternoon. Still, it was Chafin’s inability to throw a zero on the board in the eighth that eventually decided the game.

The Brewers were the first to get on the board in this game. After Weaver made short work of Milwaukee in the first, the Brewers jumped all over the Arizona righty in the second. The inning started with a single by Christian Yelich, followed by a home run off the bat of Luis Urias. Omar Narvaez then singled. Justin Smoak drew a walk. Then, Weaver finally found the zone and managed to get the next three batters out.

The Diamondbacks responded in the next frame by taking the lead. David Peralta doubled and then took third on a single by Ildemaro Vargas. He then scored when Ketel Marte grounded into a double play. Eduardo Escobar extended the inning with a walk. He then came around to score when Christian Walker hit a 0-1 pitch 412 feet, into the stands in left center field. Kole Calhoun’s struggles with the bat continued. He made the final out of the inning.

After a lead-off single by Avisail Garcia, Weaver shut the Brewers down in the bottom half of the inning.

The Diamondbacks extended their lead in the fourth. Carson Kelly singled with one out. He scored on a triple into the gap by Nick Ahmed. Ahmed then came home on a sac fly to left by David Peralta. Vargas then ended things by flying out to center. The Brewers managed to manufacture a run in the bottom of the inning to get one back.

Sadly for the Diamondbacks, the Brewers elected not to let Woodruff pitch again in the fifth inning. Virtual Craig Counsel turned to his bullpen for the final five innings. Though he burned through most of his arms, the Brewers managed to keep the Snakes off the board for the remainder of the game, giving the Milwaukee offense time to chip away at Arizona’s lead.

The chipping away began with the Brewers chasing Weaver from the game in the fifth inning. Keston Hiura started the bottom of the fifth off with a solo home run. Yelich was first pitch swinging and flew out to the wall in left center field. For a moment, it looked like Yelich had enough to put it in the seats, but he got under it just enough to keep it in the park. Urias then struck out swinging at a Weaver full-count fastball. Narvaez then took his shot at Weaver and joined the home run parade. That was the shot that brought an end to Weaver’s day.

Merill Kelly and Yoan López combined for two innings of keeping the Brewers off the board. Then, with two outs in the seventh, Virtual Lovullo turned the ball over to Andrew Chafin to face Yelich. Chafin retired Yelich with one pitch. Chafin then returned to the mound for the eighth inning. The inning was actually a very quick one for Chafin. Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, the first batter Chafin faced in the inning, Urias, hit a solo home run to give the Brewers the lead. Chafin then mowed through the next three batters he faced.

The Diamondbacks threatened to tie things back up in the ninth. Josh Hader walked Nick Ahmed to start things off.. He then struck out Stephen Vogt on three pitches. David Peralta then walked as well, putting runners at first and second with only one away. That though, is where the two would finish the game. Freddy Peralta was called out of the Milwaukee bullpen to face Ildemaro Vargas and Ketel Marte. He struck both of them out swinging to end the game.

The player of the game honors went to Luis Urias for his game-winning solo shot in the eighth inning. These same two teams will meet up again tomorrow for the rubber game of the series. Mike Leake gets the nod for Arizona. Corbin Burnes will get the start for the Brewers.

The Diamondbacks remain in third in the NL West.