Brewers 3, Marlins 2: Catcher Stephen Vogt hits two homers in home debut with Brewers
Tom Haudricourt
Stephen Vogt didn’t have to wait long for his first curtain call at Miller Park.
Playing in his first home game after being claimed on waivers from Oakland earlier in the week, the veteran catcher provided all the offense with a pair of home runs that allowed the Brewers to overtake the Miami Marlins, 3-2, at Miller Park on Friday night.
Cut loose by the A’s because he was underperforming offensively and defensively, Vogt struck first in the fifth inning, sending a drive to right-center off Marlins starter Edinson Volquez that cut Miami’s lead to 2-1.
Vogt came up again in the seventh inning with a runner on and one out, facing reliever David Phelps. He fell behind in the count, 0-2, took a ball and then whacked a 1-2 fastball out to center for a two-run blast that put the Brewers on top.
The crowd of 35,549 showed their appreciation with a prolonged standing ovation, prompting Vogt to pop out of the dugout and doff his helmet in acknowledgment.
One home game, one curtain call. Not a bad way to start your second chance with a new ballclub.
But there would be more drama. The Marlins tried to score J.T. Realmuto from first base on Derek Dietrich's double with no outs in the ninth but shortstop Orlando Arcia's relay home nabbed him.
Closer Corey Knebel then struck out JT Riddle, becoming the first reliever in the modern era to record at least one strikeout in 40 consecutive games in a season.
BOX SCORE:Brewers 3, Marlins 2
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It was a 0-0 game in the fifth when Realmuto led off with an infield hit and stole second base. Realmuto moved up on Derek Dietrich’s grounder to second and scored when Riddle sliced an opposite-field double into the left-field corner.
Volquez singled through the left side, leaving runners on the corners. Dee Gordon dropped a squeeze bunt between the plate and mound, scoring Riddle, and when the sprawling Matt Garza flipped the ball past home plate, the runners advanced to second and third.
A two-out walk to Christian Yelich loaded the bases but Garza averted further damage by striking out Marcell Ozuna on a wicked breaking ball.
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
* The Brewers traded utility player Nick Franklin to the Los Angeles Angels for a player to be named or cash. Franklin was designated for assignment to make room for Vogt after he was claimed off waivers from Oakland.
* LF Ryan Braun was out of the starting lineup on a scheduled off day. Braun played in all three game in Cincinnati after a prolonged stay on the DL (calf strain) and the plan was to ease him back into action.
* Right-hander Chase Anderson had his strained left oblique examined by team physician William Raasch and manager Craig Counsell said Anderson would be out “a significant amount of time.”
“We’re looking at more than a month,” Counsell said. “And then he’s going to have to get ready to pitch again.”
STAT SHEET
1B Eric Thames was out of the starting lineup a second consecutive night as manager Craig Counsell gives the struggling hitter (3-for-37, 17 Ks) a mental break. Thames had a huge April (1.276 OPS, 11 HRs, 19 RBI) but fell off badly in May (.791 OPS, 3 HRs, 9 RBI) and even more in June (.669 OPS, 6 HRs, 12 RBI, 39 Ks).
TAKEAWAY
If you want to become a fan favorite quickly, it certainly doesn’t hurt to hit two home runs in your first game at home. Vogt did so and it will be a night neither he nor Brewers fans forget anytime soon.
RECORD
This year: 43-39 (22-22 home; 21-17 away)
Last year: 36-46
ATTENDANCE
Friday: 35,549
2017 total: 1,253,474 (28,488 avg.)
Last year: 1,245,332 (28,303 avg.)
NEXT GAME
Saturday: Brewers vs. Marlins, 3:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Zach Davies (8-4, 4.96) vs. Miami RHP Tom Koehler (1-2, 7.04).