Rea goes above and beyond in first MLB start since 2020
SAN DIEGO — The Brewers imagine their Opening Day pitching rotation stacks up towards any within the Majors, however they know it can take greater than 5 starters. It will take a Janson Junk right here, a Colin Rea there. They hope Adrian Houser is again from the injured checklist briefly order. Maybe Aaron Ashby will return from left shoulder surgical procedure in time to assist.
But the duty all the time requires greater than 5 beginning pitchers, and it requires performances just like the one Rea delivered on Thursday night time at Petco Park. The 32-year-old began a Major League sport for the primary time since 2020 and simply the third time since 2016, and whereas the story of this specific 4-3 Brewers win over the Padres in 10 innings had some late twists and turns, the takeaway was this: It requires all types of pitchers to win.
“Couldn’t ask for anything more,” mentioned supervisor Craig Counsell of Rea. “I thought he was wonderful. He gave us a real chance to win.”
Milwaukee gained for a bunch of causes, beginning with Rowdy Tellez hitting a two-run residence run within the first inning and Mike Brosseau muscling a solo shot by means of the marine layer within the fifth to again Rea, who held the mighty San Diego lineup to a run on two hits and one stroll over 5 2/3 innings. After former Brewer Trent Grisham tied the sport within the eighth with a two-run homer off Matt Bush, and Josh Hader and Devin Williams mixed to go six-up, six-down in an electrical ninth, the Crew gained within the tenth when Christian Yelich stole third base so he might rating on Tellez’s sacrifice fly.
Reinforcing the notion that it takes all types of pitchers to win, Joel Payamps stored the Padres off the board within the backside of the tenth for his first profession save — with an enormous defensive help from shortstop Willy Adames.
“We’ve needed guys to step up in different roles, and everyone has been answering the bell when that happens,” Williams mentioned. “You saw it again tonight.”
That consists of Rea, who was known as up from Triple-A Nashville to make the Brewers’ second straight spot begin. That’s not normally the way you draw it up within the second week of April, however Milwaukee did this basically by selection, opting to offer its 4 wholesome starters an additional day of relaxation throughout this stretch of 13 consecutive sport days — a plan that was set in movement earlier than Brandon Woodruff landed on the injured checklist with proper shoulder irritation.
“Look, you’re playing the long game,” Counsell mentioned Thursday afternoon. “That’s what we’re doing here, is playing the long game to try to get us through a 162-game schedule and keep these guys not only healthy but as effective as they possibly can be.”
Counsell just isn’t alone on this evaluation.
“I think the right time to do it is early on,” mentioned Brewers ace Corbin Burnes. “These are conversations we had in Spring Training about the best way to maximize our innings come August and September when our schedule is really crunched together. I think every one of us — me, Woody, Freddy [Peralta], everyone — were like, ‘Yeah, this is what makes sense.’”
Junk was the primary beginning pitcher summoned from Triple-A on Wednesday, and he took the loss towards the D-backs after permitting 5 runs (4 earned) with out clearing the fifth inning.
Rea fared considerably higher.
The right-hander — a onetime Padres prospect whose final bona fide large league begin was July 30, 2016, following a commerce from San Diego to Miami — has had an extended baseball journey. Rea injured his proper elbow that day, and it altered the course of his profession, resulting in stints with the Cubs and the Brewers and in Japan, then again to Milwaukee on a Minor League deal this previous winter. Rea’s final Major League begin earlier than Thursday was for Chicago in ‘20, however he was basically pitching as an opener.
Now he has an opportunity to be an actual a part of the Brewers’ rotation plans.
“Obviously, with the Woodruff injury, it came right in the middle of this thing, which wasn’t ideal. But an injury is never ideal,” Counsell mentioned. “We’re nonetheless dedicated to creating certain we get guys further relaxation. It’s not going to be each time, however at instances when the majority of the fellows profit from it, we will do it.”
Thanks to Rea, it labored this time.
“I feel like it’s just a step in the right direction,” Rea mentioned. “I don’t essentially see the massive moments in my profession — it’s simply, ‘keep moving forward and preparing and working every day.’ I put together myself for moments like this.
“As far as tonight, it feels good. I’m going to get pleasure from it. Tomorrow, we’re again at it once more.”
