Taking that metaphor a little too seriously…
Last night was the NL Wildcard Game in D.C. Since the Brewers were playing, Fox Cities Stadium was holding a watch party and we attended.
It was a rainy night, so the field was soaked. This is a view I don’t often see: a rain soaked field sans tarp. During the regular season, that’s not something that would ever happen, as it could be detrimental to play. But the season is over, so it doesn’t matter.
A shot of the Fox Club, where the party was held. There are TVs in there, so everyone could watch.
I nearly lost my voice in the very first inning, when Yasmani Grandal hit a two run home run off Max Scherzer. Really good start to the game. It got better in the second, when ET (Eric Thames) phoned home, AKA hit one out of the park, making it a 3 – 0 Brewers lead.
The shut out ended at the bottom of the third, when Trea Turner hit a solo homer, making it 3 to 1. But the Brewers got out of the inning with minimal damage.
The rest of the game went well enough; the Brewers took their 3 to 1 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
The eighth inning. Oh, dear Primus, the eighth inning.
Josh Hader came on to pitch. And things happened. They were not good things.
Thanks to loading the bases and a bloop hit that should have only scored one run but was bobbled by Trent Grisham, the Nationals scored three and took a 4 to 3 lead.
That’s how it ended. The Washington Nationals are going to face the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Milwaukee Brewers season is over. Prime and I were on the way home when it went final.
Oh yes, there was an ugly cry in the truck. A yelping, whimpering, pain filled ugly cry. I half wanted to punch the ceiling of said truck, but I knew better. Besides, the fault didn’t lie with the vehicle. Instead, it was all on our “closer”.
Welcome to my worst fear realized. The Brewers have been able to jump out with early leads, but seemingly couldn’t hold on to them in later innings. If it wasn’t Hader himself blowing it, then it was the bullpen shitting the bed. This has been a problem for nearly the entire season.
It cost us tonight. Boy, did it ever cost us. There are no more games. The season is over… finished! /Furmanism
Well, there’s always next January and Brewers On Deck. Here’s hoping that I can get Lorenzo Cain’s autograph, among others. It’s not a tremendously long wait. Afterwards, it’s Spring Training and then another glorious season of Brewers baseball.
We don’t have that long to wait. See you on Opening Day 2020.
Iacon East 