Last night, Zack Greinke got the win in the Brewers’ 1-0 extra-inning win over the Chicago White Sox by tossing nine innings of three-hit ball.
Greinke improved his record to 8-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.81 for the season. With the All-Star Game a little over two weeks away, there is a distinct possibility that Greinke will represent the Brewers at this year’s game.
Brewers pitchers have actually had a great deal of success at the All-Star Game in the franchise’s 43-year history. Twenty-three Brewers pitchers have been selected to an All-Star team since 1969 with 16 of them getting a chance to pitch in the game. Brewers hurlers have a combined 0-1 record (Rollie Fingers took the loss in the 1981 contest), but they have a 1.50 ERA with 14 hits allowed and nine strikeouts in 18 innings of work.
Here’s a look at my 10 greatest pitching performances by Brewers pitchers in the All-Star Game.
10. Ben Sheets, 2007 (1.0 IP, 2 H): Sheets came on in relief during the third inning with the N.L. holding a 1-0 lead. He gave up two-out hits to Ichiro Suzuki and Derek Jeter, but retired David Ortiz to end the inning. He was credited with a hold in the game.
9. Danny Kolb, 2004 (1.0 IP, 1 H): Relieved N.L. starter Roger Clemens in the second inning after the A.L. had scored six runs in the first. Kolb retired three of the four batters he faced, giving up only a single to Ivan Rodriguez.
8. Trevor Hoffman, 2009 (1.0 IP, 1 H): Entered the game in the sixth inning with the score tied 3-3. He gave up a one-out single to Josh Hamilton, but then got Michael Young to ground into a double play to end the inning.
7. Ben Sheets, 2004 (1.0 IP, 1 K): This was the first time that two Brewers pitchers had pitched in the same All-Star Game (see Kolb above). Sheets came into the game with the N.L. down 9-4. He had a one-two-three inning.
6. Derrick Turnbow, 2006 (1.0 IP, 1 H): Turnbow entered the game with the N.L. holding a 2-1 lead. After giving up a leadoff single to Paul Konerko, Turnbow got Troy Glaus to hit into a double play. He then retired Michael Young to end the inning. He was credited with a hold in the game.
5. Ben Sheets, 2008 (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K): The only time a Brewers pitcher was the starter of an All-Star Game. Sheets left the game with the score tied at 0-0. He gave up a one-out single to Jeter in the first inning, but retired Hamilton and Rodriguez to end the first. He had two walks and two strikeouts in the second inning.
4. Bob Wickman, 2000 (1.0 IP, 1 K): With the N.L. losing 3-2, Wickman had a one-two-three inning in the eighth, striking out Tony Batista sandwiched around retiring Fred McGriff and Edgar Martinez.
3. Dan Plesac, 1987 (1.0 IP, 1 K): Pitching for the A.L., Plesac entered the game in the eighth inning with the score tied 0-0. Plesac had a one-two-three inning, striking out Hubie Brooks to end the inning.
2. Teddy Higuera, 1986 (3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K): The first pitcher out of the A.L. bullpen, Higuera entered the game in the fourth inning with the A.L. ahead 2-0. He had one-two-three innings in the fourth and the sixth, and got out of a one-out, two-on jam in the fifth by retiring Dale Murphy and Hubie Brooks. He left the game with the A.L. leading 2-0.
1. Lary Sorensen, 1978 (3.0 IP, 1 H): With the score tied 3-3, Sorensen gave up a leadoff single to Larry Bowa to start the fourth inning. He then retired nine straight, sitting down Reggie Smith, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, George Foster, Greg Luzinski, Steve Garvey, Ted Simmons, Dave Winfield and Bowa. He left the game with the score still tied at 3-3.
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