3-Run Wild Pitch Highlights Milwaukee Brewers Win Over Rockies
By Phil Watson
Three on a match we’ve heard of. But three on a pitch?
The Milwaukee Brewers took advantage of the Colorado Rockies’ sloppy play all day at Coors Field Saturday, but on no play was that more evident than when the Crew scored three runs on a single wild pitch during their 9-4 win.
In the top of the third and with a 5-2 lead, the Brewers had the bases loaded. But with pitcher Wily Peralta at the plate with two strikes, the rally appeared to be nearing its end.
Until Rockies starter Christian Friedrich—making his first big league start in nearly two years—threw a fastball over the head of catcher Michael McKenry.
Live Feed
Reviewing the Brew
As Aramis Ramirez broke from third base, McKenry retrieved the ball, which had caromed toward the first-base dugout, and threw it toward Friedrich at the plate.
McKenry didn’t exactly throw it to Friedrich is the problem. Instead, McKenry’s throw sailed over Friedrich’s head and bounced toward the third-base dugout, allowing Mark Reynolds to score from second and Jean Segura to advance to third.
As Friedrich walked the ball back toward the mound and McKenry stood with his head down near home plate, Segura realized that the ball was still in play and sprinted toward the plate. Friedrich realized what was going on and did the same. Segura won the race from the diving Friedrich, scoring the third run on the play and giving the Brewers (46-30) an 8-2 lead.
It’s really something to behold:
That was plenty for Peralta (8-5), who shook off an unearned run and a 2-0 deficit in the first inning to work 7.2 innings, allowing four runs—three earned—on eight hits and a walk, striking out two.
Colorado (34-40) found lots of ways to shoot itself in the foot, committing a season-high four errors that led to five unearned runs for Milwaukee.
Because the Rockies’ bullpen had to go six innings on Friday night, Friedrich had to wear a lot of the damage on Saturday, as he worked six innings, surrendering all nine runs—just four earned—on seven hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.
It was Colorado that got some early help from some shoddy defense. In the bottom of the first, Rickie Weeks kicked a potential double-play grounder that left the Rockies with two on and no one out.
A double steal by Charlie Blackmon and Drew Stubbs put runners at second and third and Justin Morneau delivered a two-run single to put Colorado ahead … briefly.
But the Rockies were more than happy to start giving back in the top of the second.
Carlos Gomez led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error by third baseman Josh Rutledge. Gomez moved up to third on a flyout and scored when Rutledge threw the ball away on Khris Davis’ grounder.
Davis reached second on the bad throw and came around to tie the game when Reynolds singled up the middle. Segura was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second.
Peralta grounded a ball toward shortstop, but Segura bore down on second baseman D.J. LeMahieu on the turn, with Segura’s hard slide forcing a bad throw. Colorado’s third error of the inning allowed Reynolds to score and put Peralta at second.
Rickie Weeks followed with a triple into the gap in right-center—perhaps the only ball hit well the entire inning—to put Milwaukee up 4-2.
Reynolds drove in a run in the third with an RBI double after Jonathan Lucroy walked and Ramirez singled. Segura was intentionally walked, setting up the wild pitch that kept on giving.
Ramirez capped the Brewers’ scoring with a home run leading off the top of the fifth, his ninth homer of the year.
Colorado did get a couple back in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run homer by Corey Dickerson, his second homer in as many games.
Rob Wooten allowed a hit and struck out one while getting the final out of the eighth and the first two outs in the ninth and Tom Gorzelanny came on to get the left-handed swinging Blackmon to ground out to end the game.
Milwaukee raised its MLB-best road record to 26-15 and Gomez, with his second-inning single, extended his streaks—a 17-game hitting streak and a string of reaching base in 34 consecutive games.
The Brewers go for the series sweep—and a 6-1 road trip—at 3:10 p.m. Central Sunday at Coors Field. Kyle Lohse (8-2, 3.09 ERA) takes the ball for Milwaukee and the Rockies will counter with left-hander Tyler Matzek (1-1, 3.75 ERA).