OK. This is an introductory paragraph. I have other responsibilities today (laundry, shoveling, baby sitting) and checked in to see how much more game there was to go at about 5:30. That’s about 21⁄ 2 hours in. The Brewers lead 23-1 in the bottom of the fifth. I’ll do some more laundry and come back and see who did what later. Goodness.

Box Score

Well, 6:30 and the game is mercifully (for Seattle) finished. The Brewers have moved to a 10-8 record and closed within a half game of the Mariners, who stand at 10-7. I am petitioning the Cactus Cup Commissioner to have the Brewers awarded two wins for today’s game.

Milwaukee scored 24 times in the first 6 innings before exhaustion set in and they were shut out in innings seven and eight. A ten-run fourth was the biggest, but a five-spot in the fifth and three-run second and third weren’t bad, either. Only two came across in the first, and a last gasp one in the sixth. All eight of the Brewers’ runs in the first three innings scored after two were out. Not so much in the fourth.

M’s starter Hisashi Iwakuma went 2.2 innings and surrendered seven runs (all earned) on eight hits and two walks. The Brewers connected for two homers off of him, back to back by Keon Broxton and Travis Shaw in the third. The worst performance, however, was from Ryan Weber. He started the fourth inning and did get one out, but before he was lifted he gave up eight runs (all earned) on eight hits, including a home run. That is a very bad line.

Where to start with the Brewers? Lead off hitter Broxton went 3-3 with a double, a homer, three runs, and three RBI. Shaw and Orlando Arcia added homers; Manny Pina went 3-4 as the DH with three runs and a steal of home(!) on a double steal with Eric Sogard, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis was 3-4 with two runs, two doubles, a homer, and six RBI. Capt. Kirk wants to keep his job. In four plate appearances Jesus Aguilar had a double and three walks, scoring every time.

Many others contributed, of course, and the Brewers ended the day with 24 hits including 6 doubles, a triple (Kyle Wren), and 4 homers.

Junior Guerra pitched well, going four innings with one hit (a first inning homer by Ben Gamel), while Nick Ramirez gave up a two run, seventh inning homer to Daniel Vogelbach for the Mariners’ final two runs. Preston Gainey pitched the ninth, allowing a hit and no runs, fanning two. He was not awarded a save.

Oakland’s loss to the resurgent Reds brings the Brewers to within 11⁄ 2 games of first in the Cactus Cup standings. The Brewers have two more games with Oakland, on Thursday March 23rd and Sunday March 26th, to make up ground on the front runners.

Tomorrow the Brewers will travel to Mesa to face the Cubs, with game time at 3:05 pm CDT. Every game is crucial!