Myers puts together solid debut, but offense falls short for second straight night
In Tobias Myers’ major league debut, the Brewers put together an admirable collective pitching effort, but the offense was unable to make the most of it in a 2-1 loss to the Pirates.
Myers’ major league career began with an abrupt speed bump as Andrew McCutchen homered on Myers’ first pitch. Aside from this one blip, however, Myers worked an important five innings while allowing just that one run. His final line included four hits allowed, one walk, and four strikeouts. It wasn’t quite a dominant outing, but it was just what the Brewers needed to remain in the game. Even when the Pirates made consistent contact, Myers limited traffic and kept the team within reach.
That one-run gap proved too large for Milwaukee, though, despite their offensive success this season. For the second game in a row, the Pirates’ starter stymied the Brewers lineup. Bailey Falter pitched seven-plus innings while allowing just one run on three hits while racking up eight strikeouts.
The sluggish offensive effort from the Brewers constituted just those three hits while failing to generate much pressure. The most dangerous opportunity came in the third inning when Joey Wiemer was caught at home on a chopped ground ball. With runners still on second and third base, Willy Adames grounded out to end the inning.
In the sixth inning, Jared Koenig replaced Myers and allowed the second run to Pittsburgh. It wasn’t a catastrophic performance, but it was all the Pirates needed to secure the win. Koenig allowed three straight singles to kick off the inning but responded by retiring the next six batters he faced, working two innings total in relief.
In the eighth inning, the Brewers’ only consolation was a solo home run from Gary Sanchez. With the score at 2-1, Milwaukee got another runner in scoring position as Brice Turang worked a walk and stole his second base of the night. The rally would end before it could get started, but Turang proved once again his value as a catalyst at the bottom of the order. With a hit, walk, and two steals, Turang now has an .847 OPS while tying for the league lead with 12 stolen bases. He hasn’t been caught yet in his sneaky endeavors, providing a vital catalyst at the bottom of the order.
Distance: 432 FT
Exit Velo: 113.5 mphThat is a MISSILE from @ElGarySanchez https://t.co/GiPAiogyJR pic.twitter.com/xOeEs3vKwm
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 24, 2024
The Brewers have been striking out at an increased rate over the past week. While it’s far from a concrete flaw, it has certainly played a part in the Brewers scoring more than three runs just once since April 15. The loss leaves the Brewers with a 14-8 record with the Pirates, 13-11, attempting to prove their hot start was real.
The Brewers will play the third game of the four-game set tomorrow. Bryse Wilson will start for Milwaukee with Quinn Priester on the mound for the Pirates. First pitch is at 5:40 p.m.