RECAP
> Granted it was against a pretty weak lineup, Wily Peralta finally picked up his first win of 2016 in the Brewers’ 8-5 win over Philadelphia, and may have made some strides to turn around his season.
He was helped by an offensive explosion from the Brewers offense in the bottom of the sixth inning. Up until then, Jerad Eickhoff (1-3, 4.07 ERA) had shown the Brewers why he had a sub-2.00 ERA coming into the start; he was dominant other than a two-run fourth inning that included a Ryan Braun home run. However, things completely unraveled for him in the sixth. The Phillies had just given him a two-run lead in the top of the inning thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles from Cameron Rupp and Cesar Hernandez, but even that could not save him from the Brewers rally that would ensue. Scooter Gennett led off the inning with a solo home run. Braun and Chris Carter then hit a single and double, respectively, to set the stage for a two-run double from Kirk Nieuwenhuis, which gave the Brewers a lead they would not lose. However, they weren’t done: two batters later, Jonathan Villar drove in Nieuwenhuis with a double of his own. That would be all for Eickhoff, but the rally continued following his departure. Pinch-hitter Alex Presley, just recalled from Triple-A on Thursday, greeted Phillies reliever Hector Neris with a two-run blast on the first pitch he saw.
After a rough outing last night in which he gave up three runs to put the game out of reach for the Brewers, Jeremy Jeffress rebounded today and notched the save, his sixth of the year.
> Peralta (1-3, 7.40 ERA) wasn’t spectacular by any means, but given the quality of his work so far this year, this was by far his best start. He completed six innings for the first time while allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, his first quality start of the year and just the Brewers’ fifth overall. Peralta didn’t walk a batter and struck out five in the win.
Eickhoff, who was rolling through the first five innings, saw his beautiful 1.89 ERA coming in climb all the way to 4.07 thanks to his disaster sixth inning. He lasted 5 1/3 while giving up seven runs on nine hits. He didn’t allow a walk and struck out seven.
NEWS
> Will Smith did some throwing in the outfield this morning prior to the game, which is a good sign. His recovery from a torn LCL– a ligament in the knee– towards the end of spring training is still in its early stages, though it’s good to see he’s starting a throwing program of some sort. Smith isn’t expected to return until late May or early June at the earliest.
> The All-Star Game ballot opened today. The Brewers starters on the ballot are Jonathan Lucroy (catcher), Carter (first base), Gennett (second base), Aaron Hill (third base), Villar (shortstop), Braun (outfield), Ramon Flores (outfield), and Domingo Santana (outfield), though fans can write in players who aren’t on the ballot as starters.
STATS
> Braun’s home run was his fifth of the year, tying him for the team lead with Carter.
> Gennett’s blast was his fourth of the season. He isn’t hitting for a great average– it’s sitting at just .258 at the moment– but he has quietly shown some pop early on this season, continuing what he did in spring training.
EXTRAS
> Here’s an interesting tidbit regarding Eickhoff: he has some ties to Wisconsin. He played his college ball at Olney Central College in Olney, Ill., but during the summer of 2010, Eickhoff pitched for the Wisconsin Woodchucks, a Northwoods team based in Wausau, Wis.
Breaking Wisconsin 