2014-06-21 Brewers (Peralta) at Rockies (Friedrich), 3:10 PM CDT [Brewers win, 9-4]

[TooLiveBrew]

[igt-2012][game-setup][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/logos/brewers.png[/logo][game-info][h1]June 21 | 3:10 P.M.[/h1][h2]Brewers (45-30) | Rockies (34-39)[/h2][h3]FSWI | WTMJ 620[/h3][/game-info][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/logos/rockies.png[/logo][/game-setup][pitching-photos]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/pitchers/brewers/peralta-09.jpghttp://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/pitchers/rockies/friedrich-01.jpg[/pitching-photos][game-matchup][divclass=away][h2]7-5, 2.98 ERA, 1.23 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Rockies | Game Log[/h3][h3]Peralta was away from the team between his past two starts because an undisclosed family matter in the Dominican Republic, but returned with a strong, seven-inning outing in a win over Arizona. He's won three straight starts.[/h3][/divclass][divclass=home][h2]0-0, -.-- ERA, -.-- WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Brewers | Game Log[/h3][h3]Friedrich will start after the club optioned Juan Nicasio to Triple-A. It will be Friedrich's first Major League appearance since July 28, 2012.[/h3][/divclass][starting-lineup][divclass=away]

1. 2B Rickie Weeks
   
2. RF Ryan Braun
   
3. C Jonathan Lucroy
   
4. CF Carlos Gómez
   
5. 3B Aramis Ramírez
   
6. LF Khris Davis
   
7. 1B Mark Reynolds
   
8. SS Jean Segura
   
9. RHP Wily Peralta

[/divclass][divclass=home]

1. RF Charlie Blackmon
   
2. CF Drew Stubbs
   
3. SS Troy Tulowitzki
   
4. 1B Justin Morneau
   
5. LF Corey Dickerson
   
6. 3B Josh Rutledge
   
7. C Michael McKenry
   
8. 2B D.J. Lemahieu
   
9. LHP Christian Friedrich

[/divclass][/starting-lineup][/game-matchup][game-links][h3][chat]BrewerFan Chat[/chat] | MLB Gameday[/h3][/game-links][/igt-2012]

[TooLiveBrew]

Peralta looks to give road warriors Brewers series win

Righty owns a 9.00 ERA vs. Rockies, who counter with Friedrich

By Ryan Hood / MLB.com | 6/21/2014 2:28 AM ET

 

With 25 road wins, the Brewers have the most victories away from home of any team in the Majors. They're also tied with the Braves for most quality starts. The unique, hitter-friendly atmosphere at Coors Field figured to present a challenge to the road warrior Brewers, and although Milwaukee pulled out a 13-10 victory in the series opener on Friday, the pitching staff struggled.

 

"You can't worry about it. Ours is a good hitter's park. A lot of opposing teams come into ours and worry," manager Ron Roenicke said. "You just have to make pitches. You make pitches and the damage is going to be little. ... So hopefully we command the ball well and we can keep the run total down."

 

They failed to do so on Friday, but they'll send Wily Peralta (7-5, 2.98 ERA) to the mound on Saturday in hopes of returning the team to its stingy pitching ways.

 

The 25-year-old right-hander has had a career season thus far. He has tailed off a tad lately, though. He allowed three or more earned runs just twice in his first 11 starts and since then, he's been tagged for three or more runs earned in three of four starts. Peralta is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA through 10 innings pitched in three career appearances (two starts) against the Rockies.

 

He'll be opposed by lefty Christian Friedrich, who'll be making his first MLB appearance since July 28, 2012.

 

Brewers: Braun slumping

Ryan Braun, who played in his 1,000th career game on Friday night, has been scuffling lately, hitting .169 (10-for-59) in the last two weeks. Despite Braun's struggles, manager Ron Roenicke isn't shuffling his lineup.

 

"With the way they're swinging, I don't really want to change things right now. Our 3-4 [hitters] are pretty good. Brauny is not swinging it as well, so we don't really want to move him from his spot yet," Roenicke said. "Aramis [Ramirez] is swinging the bat well, so I think that as long as we're scoring runs and everything is going well, everybody is pretty happy."

 

Both Braun and Roenicke said the rib-cage injury that landed Braun on the disabled list last month is no longer a factor. But he is still bothered from time to time by a nagging nerve issue in his right hand that dates to last season, plus the usual bumps and bruises common for everyday Major Leaguers.

 

"It's just from at-bat to at-bat, we need to get him [braun] back and being that consistent guy who gives you the three good at-bats a game," Roenicke said. "We're not there with him yet. We were for a while, he was swinging well for a while. Then all of a sudden, he lost it. Physically, it's part of the problem when he goes in a little bit of a funky stage."

 

Rockies: Friedrich returns

It took nearly 23 months, but Friedrich is back in the Majors.

 

"It's always nice to put this stuff on again," Friedrich said of the Rockies' uniform on Friday. "I'm really excited just to be back in the clubhouse with a lot of the guys who I came up through the system."

 

He was 5-8 with a 6.17 ERA in 16 starts before he was put on the disabled list because of a stress fracture in his lower back in 2012.

 

Friedrich will be called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs. The lefty has not been pitched well for the Sky Sox. He is 1-8 with a 7.89 ERA in 13 starts. He's served up 91 hits -- including 11 home runs -- in 67 1/3 innings.

 

"There's been some glimpses of some dominant performances and he's struggled at times too. So it's been a mixed bag for him down in Triple-A," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

 

"He's had some success here before and we hope that it's a spark for him, being back in the big leagues."

 

Friedrich hopes so as well, though he feels good about how his 2014 has transpired so far.

 

"Most of the starts have been pretty good in the start and usually there' s maybe a crooked number every now and then," Friedrich said. "I just feel real healthy. Getting out in front, working on some mechanical things, just trusting all my pitches. This year's been a lot of ups and downs, but I'm healthy, made all my starts for the most part. So it's been great."

 

Worth Noting

• Carlos Gomez has a 16-game hitting streak and has reached base in 33 consecutive games.

 

• Friedrich will be the 11th pitcher to start for the Rockies this year. Entering Thursday, the Rockies were tied with the Rangers among Major League teams for most starting pitchers used this season.

[TooLiveBrew]

For a little bit of perspective on Friedrich, here are the box scores from his two starts against the Nashville Sounds this season --

 

May 9: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

 

May 30: 2.1 IP, 9 H, 9 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

[pacopete4]

So we probably will struggle to score runs today then?

[BuckyBrewer61]

So we probably will struggle to score runs today then?

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

Though I wonder, for all we make about the Brewers struggling against rookies/high ERA types, are there actually stats to support that they actually do so? And do they really tend to hit ace-types well?

[DuWayne Steurer]

So we probably will struggle to score runs today then?

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

Though I wonder, for all we make about the Brewers struggling against rookies/high ERA types, are there actually stats to support that they actually do so? And do they really tend to hit ace-types well?

 

 

It's not just the Brewers that this happens to. Look what Mike Fiers did his first time through the league. When there's not a lot of pitch data on guys, they can be deceptively good because batters haven't seen them before.

 

Look what Cal Eldred did his first time through the AL in 1992.

 

Also, does anyone remember Steve Woodard's first career start?

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL199707281.shtml

 

Chris Saenz

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/saenzch01.shtml

 

Anyone that thinks this only happens to the Brewers is just selectively forgetting the many times Brewers pitchers have come up and been aces for a day or a few months.

[Outlander]

Kind of odd that the Rockies would start a guy that is so horrible. Maybe one of those games where the starting pitcher is left out there a long time to save the bullpen

[DuWayne Steurer]

Schroeder: "I don't think it matters where Tulowiski is the way he hits."

 

Or, you know, with the internet, you could just look up his home/road splits and see that on the road, he's pretty much average.

 

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=tulowtr01&year=2014&t=b

[DuWayne Steurer]

Great play Rickie.

[Vgmastr]

We'd be better off with a Scooter/Bianchi platoon at this point, at least Bianchi can play defense.

[pacopete4]

Dangit Rickie. You just cannot continue to do this. I want him so badly to be a part of this team and contribute but it's becoming more and more apparent that it just is not going to happen. I just wanted him a part of a winners since he was injured the last time around that we were relevant. Time to really go after other options DM.

 

Dig deep Peralta, limit the damage!

[DuWayne Steurer]

Well, there's 2 runs on Rickie right there.

[pacopete4]

Does the ball carry more in the day or night there? Anyone know?

[Daubs]

Well, there's 2 runs on Rickie right there.

 

One, IMO. Yes, Rickie botched the DP - but Peralta's to blame for letting Stubbs move up to 2nd on the steal.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Well, there's 2 runs on Rickie right there.

 

One - Peralta's to blame for letting Stubbs move up to 2nd on the steal.

 

Stubbs would never have been on base if Rickie had handled a routine double play ball.

[Daubs]

Well, there's 2 runs on Rickie right there.

 

One - Peralta's to blame for letting Stubbs move up to 2nd on the steal.

 

Stubbs would never have been on base if Rickie had handled a routine double play ball.

 

Just because he was on base, that shouldn't absolve Peralta from spacing out and letting runners move up. He still had control to get out of that situation.

[DuWayne Steurer]

 

Just because he was on base, that shouldn't absolve Peralta from spacing out and letting runners move up. He still had control to get out of that situation.

 

I understand that, but Rickie has culpability for that runner being on base to begin with.

 

Believe me, when both guys stole without even a throw, I wanted to throw things at the tv.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Well, Rutledge appears to be well on his way to making up for Rickie's gaffe.

[trwi7]

Did Rutledge give Weeks a hand shake or something?

[Daubs]

Well, Rutledge appears to be well on his way to making up for Rickie's gaffe.

 

I hope this isn't a one-up contest.......

 

I'm afraid of what we'll see later......

[pacopete4]

Wow. That's some bad baseball. But we will take it. 2-2!

[pacopete4]

No DP. Clear the pitcher and get back at them next inning.

[Daubs]

Did Rutledge give Weeks a hand shake or something?

 

Maybe they both drank Jobu's rum?

[DuWayne Steurer]

Ouch......

[Daubs]

 

Just because he was on base, that shouldn't absolve Peralta from spacing out and letting runners move up. He still had control to get out of that situation.

 

I understand that, but Rickie has culpability for that runner being on base to begin with.

 

Believe me, when both guys stole without even a throw, I wanted to throw things at the tv.

 

I'm with ya on that - not meaning to take any responsibility from Weeks on that.