The Milwaukee Brewers rode the arm of Ben Sheets to a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves Monday night. Sheets pitched his third complete game of the year, and is quietly having a Cy Young type season so far for the Brew Crew. Sheets has a sub 2.50 ERA, and improved to 9-1 on the season.
Sheets also improved to 6-0 on the road. When asked about his success on the road, Sheets said, “We've got a good team. We're going to win games." Indeed the Brewers do have a good team. Winning 7 of their last 10, they have amassed the third best record in the league, which just so happens to be behind the Cubs and Cardinals in the N.L. Central.
While all of the attention has been on the Cubs for their tremendous play, and the Cardinals, who seemingly have come out of nowhere, the Brewers are right in the middle of things. It also is important to say that the Brewers are 4-2 against the Cubs, and 5-3 against the Cardinals this year.
The Milwaukee bats are beginning to heat up as well. Ryan Braun has made a smooth move to left field and leads the team with 20 home runs and 56 RBI’s. Prince Fielder has also found his power stroke, and recently had an inside the park home run (unbelievably, the SECOND of his career).
The Brewers also have a few solid hitters who haven’t lived up to their billing so far this year. Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall are both hitting below .220, and those numbers you would think simply have to improve.
With Sheets being a truly dominant starter, and the success the Brewers have had against the Cubs and Cardinals, things are shaking up to be an exciting year in the N.L. Central.
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3 months ago
I saw that game last night. Sheets really made some adjustments in the game by going to his devastating curve. When a guy with that much control locates his fastball and then throws that curve with the same arm speed, he will dominate. For the most part, Sheets threw exactly what catcher Jason Kendall called, but he didn't always put that curve in his mitt; yet, the pitch had so much break, location did not matter.
Sheets pitched a gem; it would have been more fun to watch if I were not a Braves fan.
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