An early series match-up between the NL East-leading Phillies and the NL Central defending champion Milwaukee Brewers didn’t go well for Philly fans.
The four-game series finale May 16 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies, two very serious NL contenders, was not a particularly well-played game. By the end of the seventh inning, for example, the Brew Crew had fielded like drunks, committing three errors, and the Fightin’s had appeared to be spoiling for a fight, hitting three Milwaukee batters with pitches.
Hold on. That last observation isn’t entirely accurate despite the nifty parallel structure. None of the pitches by Philly hurlers that hit Milwaukee batters seemed even remotely intentional, and the Brewers actually seemed pretty much unfazed by their players being plunked, but you get the idea – sloppy game. Interesting, perhaps, through six innings, but brutal after that.
Milwaukee ultimately pulled away and won easily, 11-3, on a late power surge – seven runs in the last three innings. They also took the series, 3-1, and demonstrated that of these two NL powerhouses, the Brewers may well be more prepared for serious competition.
The Phillies had taken game one of the Milwaukee Brewers visit, 7-4, but what happened Thursday afternoon largely reflected what occurred in the next three games. In fact, if the Phillies hadn’t run six relief pitchers out behind series-opening starter Aaron Nola in a most Milwaukee way (they held on, and held the bullpen door open), this series might have been a sweep.