Milwaukee Sweeps Series from Cleveland in Battle of Division Leaders

The Cleveland Guardians, leaders of the American League Central, had a three game set with the National League Central leading Brewers in Milwaukee August 16th—18th. The series didn’t have a lot of offense, but the pitching was excellent, especially for the Brewers as Milwaukee swept all three games.

In Game 1, former Guardian Aaron Civale pitched six shutout innings against his old team and the Brewers. Milwaukee led 5-0 after four innings, but reliever Bryse Wilson allowed a pair of homers in the eighth inning. That was as close as the Guardians got, and Milwaukee held on to win 5-3. Civale played in Cleveland for five years before being traded to Tampa Bay halfway through last season. He just couldn’t get it going for the Rays, and was traded to Milwaukee on July 3rd of this year. This game was his seventh start for the Brewers, and his best one.

Each club could manage just four hits in Game 2 on August 17th, but Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta outdueled Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee in a 2-1 win for the Brewers. Bibee took the loss; while he allowed just one earned run, he committed an error that led to an unearned run in the first inning. He allowed a home run to William Contreras in the fourth that proved to be the game winner.

In the final game of the series, Milwaukee scored a run in each of the first two innings which was enough as the Brewers went on to win 2-0. Starter Colin Rea allowed Cleveland just two hits in seven innings, and a pair of relievers allowed no hits the rest of the way.

Rea has been a huge surprise for Milwaukee this season. The 34 year old right hander logged some time with three major league clubs before signing a minor league contract with the Brewers during the 2021 season, appearing in just one game with the big club. He played in Japan in 2022, before returning to the Brewer’s organization in 2023. He had 22 starts and 26 total appearances with Milwaukee in 2023, compiling a 6-6 record and 4.55 ERA. This season, he’s quietly emerged as a top starter for Milwaukee with an 11-4 record and 3.52 ERA in 24 games, 21 of which are starts.

Milwaukee improved to 72-52 this season, and has an 11 game lead over second place St. Louis in the N.L. Central. Cleveland is also 72-52, but the Guardians’ lead over second place Minnesota is down to two games.