In a season of accomplishments, another milestone is on the radar for the Milwaukee Brewers.
They’ll have their first chance to break the franchise record for regular-season victories when their series with the host Baltimore Orioles ends Sunday night.
“I believe the regular season indicates the character of your team,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said.
The Brewers (97-58) have won nine of their last 11 games, including Saturday’s 1-0 result that tied the team record for victories, set last season.
The way this season has gone provides more validation for Murphy, whose team already has clinched the National League Central title.
“Nobody expected it last year,” he said. “Nobody expected us to win. This year, a few people thought we would at least finish second (in the division). The fact that the guys went and doubled down on it, feels like it wasn’t a fluke.”
Baltimore (75-80) didn’t put enough pressure on Milwaukee pitchers as it dug a deeper hole in the American League wild-card race.
“Just the ability to, in a close game like that, you have to be able to move the runner, play some team baseball, get some bunts down, see some pitches when the guy is throwing five, six straight balls,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “… Yeah, it was a frustrating day.”
Albernaz, who’s nearing the end of his first season as a big-league manager, received a vote of confidence from the front office this weekend that he’ll return for a second season.
With seven games left, Baltimore is four behind the Chicago White Sox in the race for the No. 3 wild-card slot in the AL.
“It’s definitely a disappointing year, for sure,” Albernaz said. “And that’s something I wear pretty heavily, just because of the seat I’m in, and I don’t take that lightly. For me, all the losses I wear heavily and they fall directly on me. …
“We’re under the mindset that we’re still in, still have a chance until there’s either an ‘E’ next to our name or we’re in. We still have to go out and compete.”
Murphy praised the Orioles for their grit throughout the series and season.
“I was so impressed,” Murphy said. “That guy managing the team over there, he’s got their attention.”
Yet the Orioles have been blanked three times this month. The latest shutout brought frustration because of a lack of execution at the plate.
“Outside of our (four) hits, Pete (Alonso) and Coby (Mayo) and Rece (Hinds) barreled up some balls and squared them up pretty good,” Albernaz said. “Outside of that, the at-bat quality wasn’t our best, by any stretch.”
It won’t be easy for Baltimore’s offense to break out on Sunday.
Right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (15-5, 1.89 ERA) will head to the mound for the Brewers looking to add to his season’s glowing credentials. He has won his last four decisions, while Milwaukee is 7-0 in his last seven starts. He hasn’t been extended beyond six innings in any of those games.
Misiorowski will face the Orioles for the first time in his career.
For the Orioles, right-hander Brandon Young (9-4, 3.65 ERA) will seek his first victory since Aug. 11. He threw a solid five innings Monday against the New York Mets, limiting them to one run in Baltimore’s 2-1 victory. Young will oppose the Brewers for the first time.
–Field Level Media
