News
Hoffman three outs from new record
Milwaukee (34-28) vs. Chicago (29-34), 1:05 p.m. CT
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
06/13/09 10:07 PM ET
MILWAUKEE -- "Hells Bells" were quiet when Trevor Hoffman took the mound at Miller Park on Saturday, and so were most of the 44,100 fans at Miller Park.After sitting on the bullpen bench for a full week, Hoffman decided it was time for an inning of work, even though it meant pitching the eighth inning with the Brewers in a 7-0 hole. Instead of the AC/DC tune that usually accompanies his entrance, he trotted in to a song by The Offspring.
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"We were either going to use him today or [Sunday]," manager Ken Macha said. "I'm trying to save some bullets out there in the bullpen, and he hadn't pitched in a while. He'll definitely be available [on Sunday] because he had a minimal number of pitches."
The Brewers and White Sox will play the rubber match of their first regular-season series since 2001 on Sunday in front of another sellout crowd.
As usual, Hoffman was dynamite on Saturday. He surrendered a leadoff double to Jayson Nix, but then retired the next three hitters in order, with help from center fielder Mike Cameron, who crashed into the outfield wall to rob Brian Anderson of extra bases.
The catch helped Hoffman preserve his perfect start to the season, and left him three outs away from a 37-year-old franchise record for scoreless innings to start a season by a reliever. Hoffman has worked 18 scoreless frames this year; Earl Stephenson worked 18 2/3 innings before allowing a run in 1972.
Hoffman is 15-for-15 in save chances this season, extending his Major League record to 569 career saves. Nix was just Hoffman's ninth baserunner this year, and the first to reach on an extra-base hit. Hoffman has issued only one walk, and that came in his 15th game.
Pitching matchupMIL: RHP Braden Looper (5-3, 4.50 ERA)
Looper pitched six strong innings in his last start, but gave up back-to-back doubles to begin a three-run seventh inning in a 3-2 loss against Colorado on Tuesday. Looper came out with one on and no out in the seventh inning. Two runs scored with relievers on the mound, and Looper ended the night with a final line of two runs on seven hits. He also struck out seven, walking none. Looper has only faced the White Sox once in his career. It was a hitless one-inning relief appearance in which he walked a batter. CWS: LHP Mark Buehrle (6-2, 3.24 ERA)
Buehrle issued a season-high four walks, all of which came around to score in a no-decision against the Tigers on Tuesday night. His streak of five straight starts with at least seven innings pitched came to an end, as he lasted 6 1/3 innings. Buehrle allowed five runs on four hits while striking out four. Buehrle has only faced the Brewers one time, as a reliever in his Major League debut on July 16, 2000. In that game, he threw one inning, allowing one run on two hits. Tidbits
Hoffman hasn't endeared himself just to Milwaukeeans with his performance on the mound. According to a Miller Park employee, he stopped this week at a concession stand on Miller Park's service level that is frequented by ushers and other stadium staff. "The next $100 of hot dogs is on me," Hoffman said, dropping a bill on the counter. ... Macha's interesting theory: J.J. Hardy's struggles might be related to the number of times he looks at a first-pitch strike and then falls into an 0-and-2 count. Entering play on Saturday, Hardy had faced 48 such counts and was batting .159 when faced with an 0-and-2 count, with 17 strikeouts. Among Brewers, only Ryan Braun had faced more 0-and-2 counts (54), but he was batting a ridiculous .340 in those plate appearances with three home runs and 20 strikeouts. ... Assistant general manager Gord Ash said that right-handed prospect Alex Periard (shoulder) would be activated from the disabled list on Sunday and assigned to Class A Wisconsin, where he will work on a pitch count for about three weeks before a promotion. The Brewers have used Wisconsin as a "springboard" for several players coming out of the sterility of extended spring training. "I think getting a guy in some real games is important," Ash said. ... Ash also said that right-hander Nick Green, whose Triple-A season has been interrupted by soreness in the 'lat' muscle behind his right shoulder, is rehabbing in Phoenix and is "a couple weeks away" from returning. ... Saturday's loss was the Brewers' first in eight games with the roof open this season. The Brewers are 10-12 when the roof is closed. ... Milwaukee is 1-4 in Interleague Play this season. ... The Brewers will host a press conference with first-round Draft pick Eric Arnett, a right-hander from Indiana University, prior to Sunday's game. Arnett agreed to contract terms on Friday, but had to pass a physical before the deal was official.
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• Monday: Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-3, 4.58) at Indians (Carl Pavano, 6-5, 5.40), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 6-3, 2.88) at Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 1-3, 5.10), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Brewers (Jeff Suppan, 5-4, 4.48) at Indians (David Huff, 2-2, 7.39), 6:05 p.m. CT
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
