After dropping three out of four games to the Diamondbacks in Arizona, the Milwaukee Brewers were staring up another mountain in their series opener against the Rockies in Colorado on Labor Day, falling behind 3-0 after the first inning. Adrian Houser didn’t get much help with an error on Kolton Wong but he didn’t help himself either by walking a pair and giving up two hits. Houser figured things out however as the sinker kept sinking and he made it through five innings without giving up another hit. The offense finally got going with a pair of runs in the 4th and the Brewers grabbed the lead with a 4 spot in the sixth, capped by Victor Caratini’s three run homer. Taylor Rogers ran into trouble in the 8th, giving up a run and leaving the bases loaded for Devin Williams who got a punch out to end the threat and he worked the ninth with a walk and getting a game ending double play for a rare, four out save in Milwaukee’s 6-4 victory. It was a milestone win for manager Craig Counsell, collecting the 600th victory of his career.
The Brewers gained ground in their playoff chase too, pulling to within 7 and a half games of St. Louis in the NL Central race as the Cardinals were blanked by Washington 6-0. Milwaukee is just two games out of the Wild Card race as Philadelphia and San Diego are in a dead heat for the final spot. The Phillies had the day off while the Padres were shut out by Arizona 5-0.
Brandon Woodruff will face Chad Kuhl in game two of the series Tuesday night at Coors Field. Pre-game coverage begins at 7:05 PM with a 7:40 PM first pitch on WTAQ.