Winning a game after you give up a two-out hit in the bottom of the ninth is tough. Winning a game when the opposition has second and third with one down in the bottom of an extra inning is tough. Winning a game when you go eight innings with no runs and two hits is tough.
But the Milwaukee Brewers (1-0) managed that in their season opener against the San Diego Padres (0-1) at Petco Field in San Diego. They used great pitching, a couple of two-out rallies, solid defense, and more Ji-Man Choi magic to pull out a very tough win in twelve innings, 2-1.
Brewers’ starter Chase Anderson worked six great innings, picking up where he left off last season. He shut out the Padres over that stretch on one hit, three walks, and six strikeouts. His only blemish on the day was actually a positive for the Crew: he scored the Brewers’ only run in regulation on one of the worst slides in baseball history. Anderson barreled towards home plate, attempting a slide that resulted in him jamming his head into the turf.
The twelve inning game probably means that the Brewers will have to add a bullpen arm before tomorrow’s game. Brandon Woodruff and Oliver Drake are the only relievers that didn’t work today, and it’s too early in the season to expect that tomorrow’s Brewer starter Jhoulys Chacin will give the team more than six innings.