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Ill-Advised Bunt Provides A Learning Experience For Young Brewers Outfielder

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MILWAUKEE — With how many games the young and inexperienced Milwaukee Brewers have clawed their way back to win this season, it was only a matter of time until that youth and inexperience came back to cost them one. Friday was one of those nights for the Brewers, who saw their ninth-inning rally stifled when, with two outs and the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Blake Perkins bunted right back to the pitcher for the final out of a 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.

“I think it’s a young person’s moment,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Obviously he regrets the decision but we’ve had so many young players step up this year, (Perkins) included. Over and over, he’s won games for us, defensively, offensively, and even with the bunt.”

Ill-Advised Bunt Provides Learning Experience for Brewers’ Blake Perkins

Perkins has indeed been an unsung hero this season, and a big reason the Brewers have staked out an early lead over the rest of the National League Central. The former second-round draft pick played his way into an everyday job with a versatile skill set that so far has included a number of highlight-reel catches, clutch hits, and, yes, even timely bunts.

Less Is More

In this situation, Blake Perkins’ biggest mistake wasn’t so much the decision to bunt, but the thought process going into it. Or, as Murphy told Perkins, the mistake was actually thinking too much.

“Listen, no one is more disappointed in the outcome of the events than me,” said Perkins. “I guess the best way to put it is, I know the guys behind me are statistically better hitters and I thought it would be a surprise to them and I thought it would be a higher percentage for me, and just me in general.

“We’ve got someone who’s fast at third with a big lead. I just was trying not to be the hero, I guess is the best way to put it, and obviously it was a mistake.”

Such mistakes are unfortunate, for sure, but they’re also the cost of doing business for a roster loaded with players still in their first or second year of big-league service time.

Murphy is Forgiving

For Murphy, it’s all part of the process and a worthwhile one, because more often than not, his young players have come through in those exact same moments and situations time and time again this season.

“All these young players have done so much, but there are going to be these moments, these youthful moments, that make no sense,” Murphy said. “I love this kid, man. I know it’s tearing him up inside worse than anyone. But hey, we put ourselves in a position, like we have in most every of the 69 games we’ve played, with those young guys to compete right down to the end.”

And, he still has plenty of confidence in Perkins to come through the next time he finds himself in such a situation.

“It’s not something where you have to correct him,” Murphy said. “He knows by now that’s not the possibility there. He’ll feel some guilt but you have to bounce back and I think he will. He has all year, he responds. He didn’t lose the game, that decision might not have been the one anybody else might have picked right there. We had plenty of other opportunities to score runs tonight but didn’t.”

As for Perkins, he plans to be ready when that time comes.

“I think I kind of let the moment get a little bit too big for me,” he said. “I’ll get ‘em tomorrow. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

Peralta Scuffles Again

Right-hander Freddy Peralta said he felt good physically after allowing six runs on a career-high 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings against the Reds, but is still trying to regain the form that produced a 3.61 ERA through his first 11 starts. Peralta has allowed 13 runs (12 earned) over 13 2/3 innings with a 1.829 WHIP in his last three starts, raising his ERA to 4.38 on the season.

“This game is about results, and that’s what I am not having right now,” Peralta said. “I just have to keep going, keep working. The most important thing for me is that I’m healthy. You have to move forward to the next one.”

Peralta said there was no issue physically, which makes his recent struggles all the more flummoxing.

“I know I have to make some adjustments and all that, but I’m feeling good, everything was working great,” Peralta said. “You just move forward and see what’s coming next.”

Around the Horn

INF Joey Ortiz — now sans mustache — returned to the Brewers lineup after getting a few days to recover from a tweaked hamstring. … OF Garrett Mitchell is now with Triple-A Nashville to begin a minor-league rehab assignment that could lead to him making his season debut by the end of the month. … Mitchell will be joined in Nashville by right-hander Jakob Junis, who will throw one more controlled scrimmage with the Brewers’ Arizona Complex League affiliate before beginning is his own rehab assignment.

Up Next

The series continues Saturday afternoon when Brewers right-hander Bryse Wilson (3-3, 4.19 ERA) faces off against Reds lefty Andrew Abbott (5-5, 3.28).

 

Photo Credit: © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

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