Brewer Daily News for July 1st: Thornburg in mix, Bucs sweep Crew

Good morning everyone and welcome to the Monday edition of Brewer Daily News. In the midst of all the pitching issues that the Milwaukee Brewers are facing this season, they’re hoping that Tyler Thornburg can provide some consistency. Secondly, the Brewers (32-48) got swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates (51-30) yesterday in extra innings.

Tyler Thornburg may eventually work himself into the starting rotation. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Thornburg, 24, is seeing shades of 2012 this season as he’s been going between Triple-A Nashville and the majors. Yesterday, Thornburg pitched in long relief and it’s a role that the Brewers are hoping the righty can sustain for the time being.

"“Hopefully, I pitch well enough to stick around,” Thornburg said. “I know that throughout your career, you might have to bounce around. I think it’s a good experience.” – via Brewers.com"

This season, Thornburg has only made two other appearances excluding yesterday’s game. Manager Ron Roenicke has remained mum on whether or not Thornburg will start, but said that he’ll get looks out of the bullpen if the starters get into trouble.

Yesterday afternoon, the Brewers lost a close 2-1 game to the Pirates in 14 innings. Kyle Lohse was the original starter for Milwaukee but was replaced by Thornburg after a two-hour and twenty-minute rain delay. Thornburg was efficient on the mound, pitching five scoreless innings while allowing two hits, one walk and struck out four.

Jim Henderson gave up a run in the eighth inning when Andrew McCutchen hit a single scoring Starling Marte. After that, the game would head into extra innings. Brandon Kintzler pitched three perfect innings before Francisco Rodriguez came into the game in the 14th. Rodriguez gave up a walk-off single to Russell Martin which scored Gaby Sanchez and was ultimately charged with his first loss of the season.

Offensively, the Brewers were held to only four hits. In the second inning, Logan Schafer hit a sacrifice to first that scored Yuniesky Betancourt. Back-up catcher Martin Maldonado had three of the Brew Crew’s hits as he went 3-for-5 while center fielder Carlos Gomez had the other hit, going 1-for-5.

Tonight the Brewers head to Washington D.C. to take on the Nationals (41-40) for a four game series. The projected starters for tonight’s game, beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET / 6:05 p.m. CT, are Yovani Gallardo (6-7, 4.20 ERA) for Milwaukee and Jordan Zimmermann (11-3, 2.28 ERA) for Washington.