Audio

Provus says Brewers, D-Backs pitching matchup 'interesting' for Game 4

CREATED Oct. 5, 2011

  • (1) | COMMENTS
  • Print
  • Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Next game: Wednesday, October 5th at Arizona in Game 4 of the NLDS
Brewers Gameday with the Jockey Pregame Show at 8:00 p.m. on Newsradio 620 WTMJ with pregame coverage on Live at 5 and 6 on TODAY'S TMJ4

PHOENIX - The Milwaukee Brewers woke up Wednesday morning in Phoenix coming off an 8-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks that elongated their National League Division Series past the minimum three games.

But even though Milwaukee failed to sweep the D-Backs, the intricacies of the pitching matchup (the Brewers' Randy Wolf versus Arizona's Joe Saunders) could involve some possible advantages for the Brewers on Wedneday in Game 4.

"This is going to be interesting tonight," said Newsradio 620 WTMJ Brewers radio voice Cory Provus on "Wisconsin's Morning News." 

"Randy Wolf has good lifetime numbers against Arizona, and especially at Chase Field."

Wolf, who is making his 3rd postseason start, owns a 7-2 record for his career in road games against the Diamondbacks.

Provus also believes that Saunders' previous history of sharing a dugout with current Brewers manager and former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim coach Ron Roenicke could also help Milwaukee.

"Saunders (is) a guy that Ron Roenicke knows well from his days with the Angels," explained Provus.

"Saunders came over to Arizona last year in the deal that sent Dan Haren from Arizona to the Angels.  The coaches should have a good report on Saunders, what he throws."

The difference between Saunders and Arizona's other starters in the series is that he's a left-handed pitcher, which could also bring about some lineup changes.

"The lineup might look a little different tonight," said Provus. 

"The Brewers will see a lefty for the first time this postseason.  You might see Carlos Gomez in center tonight, because Nyjer Morgan doesn't play too much against lefties."

Unfortunately, Morgan hasn't hit too much against Arizona pitchers this series.

Morgan is batting .091 for the series, with six strikeouts in the first three games.

"He's striking out quite a bit, just scuffling quite a bit.  When you're in the postseason right now, you're facing top notch pitching.  That's what the Brewers are seeing...the pitching is only going to get better as you move along here in the playoffs."

The hitting got much better for the D-Backs compared to Games 1 and 2, but Provus cites a fielding mistake in the 5th inning as perhaps the biggest play of the game, the one that set up the grand slam by Paul Goldschmidt that clinched the game.

"The Diamondbacks batting, one out, runners on 1st and 2nd and Justin Upton hit what looked to be a natural comebacker, right back to Marcum, and he had a good chance to glove that ball and turn," said Provus. 

"It would have been an inning-ending double play, but he bobbled the ball a little bit and he only got one.  That kept the inning alive for Arizona. You know that old adage.  You give teams extra outs, and they'll take advantage.  Sure enough, about three minutes later, Goldschmidt hit that grand slam that put the game out of reach last night."