Brewer Daily News for July 15th: Aoki trade rumors, Brewers win

Good morning everyone and welcome to the Monday edition of Brewer Daily News. As we inch closer and closer to the trade deadline, the Milwaukee Brewers are receiving calls about right fielder Norichika Aoki. In the second bit of news, yesterday afternoon the Brewers (38-56) beat the Arizona Diamondbacks (50-45), but still lost the series 3-1.

Could the Brewers really afford to part with Norichika Aoki? Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

For Aoki, his second year in America has been just as successful as the first with the interest he has been drawing from other teams. In particular, the Texas Rangers have opened up and noted their interest in the 31 year-old, possibly if they lose Nelson Cruz.

"“Over here, teams trade for you because they want you,” Aoki said through translator Kosuke Inaji. “In Japan, there’s a negative aspect about getting traded.” – via Brewers.com"

The Brewers haven’t said much about the trade rumors not only surrounding Aoki, but Yovani Gallardo and Kyle Lohse, however other teams may force their hand soon. This season, Aoki is hitting .294/.360/.370 with four home runs, 19 RBIs, 46 runs scored and has stolen 10 bases. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Aoki is he has only struck out 20 times in 354 at-bats (392 plate appearances).

Yesterday, the Brewers beat the Diamondbacks 5-1. Wily Peralta took the mound for Milwaukee and was dominant once again, picking up his seventh win of the season. Peralta pitched seven innings and only gave up one run (a solo home run to Miguel Montero) on seven hits, two walks and struck out eight. The bullpen was solid, pitching two innings of scoreless relief while allowing one hit.

Ian Kennedy was the starter for Arizona and got battered, receiving his sixth loss this season. Kennedy was tagged for five runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched while giving up nine hits, two walks and struck out four.

Offensively, the Brewers struck early in the first inning when Carlos Gomez hit a single that scored Aoki and Logan Schafer. After that, Martin Maldonado hit a ground-out to third, but Jean Segura was able to score. In the fifth, Schafer hit a sacrifice to the pitcher that Jeff Bianchi scored on. Schafer wasn’t done with the offensive show as in the fifth inning he hit a solo home run, his second of the year.

The Brewers, like the rest of the MLB, have the next four days off before they host the Miami Marlins (35-58) on Friday. Tomorrow night in the All-Star Game, be sure to keep an eye out for the Brewers’ representatives in Gomez and Segura.