Winker embraces bench role with key 9th-inning single

MILWAUKEE — Nobody is extra disenchanted about Jesse Winker’s manufacturing for the Brewers than Winker himself, however on Monday, he discovered a technique to contribute in a brand new position off the bench.

Blake Perkins took a four-pitch stroll earlier than Winker’s pinch-hit single pushed the successful run into scoring place for Christian Yelich’s walk-off single, giving the Brewers a 3-2 win over the Reds at American Household Area on an evening Milwaukee’s pitching and protection shined as soon as once more, however the offense principally floundered.

Irrespective of. With Joey Wiemer’s home-run-saving catch within the first inning and Sal Frelick’s first profession house run within the sixth, the Brewers beat the Reds for the ninth time in 11 tries this season and moved 1 1/2 video games forward within the National League Central standings on an evening Milwaukee was 2-for-16 with runners in scoring place and got here up empty with a runner at third base and fewer than two outs in 4 completely different innings. As Yelich dug in towards Reds All-Star nearer Alexis Díaz, Brewers hitters had come up empty in 14 consecutive at-bats with runners in scoring place.

A bouncer by way of the appropriate facet of the infield modified the whole lot.

“Baseball’s robust,” mentioned Yelich after his first walk-off hit since September 2019. “There’s a variety of robust moments, and also you’ve simply received to maintain battling. Daily is a brand new day. You by no means know when it’s going to show.

“[Winker] has performed a very good job. He’s stayed actually optimistic all 12 months and works actually exhausting. It’s nice to see him have success in that second, and hopefully that will get him began, and he can construct on that.”

“I’m not going to come back in right here and pout or mope or not be an excellent dude,” Winker mentioned. “Truthfully, it’s been extraordinarily enjoyable for me to be right here and be part of this workforce. I want I may very well be doing extra to assist, however there’s nonetheless a variety of ball left, and I wish to be prepared for it.”

The Brewers acquired Winker and infielder Abraham Toro from the Mariners within the winter for money and second baseman Kolten Wong, and for 2 of these gamers, it’s been a tough 12 months. Among the many 289 gamers who had greater than 190 or extra plate appearances going into Monday evening Wong (.208) and Winker (.248) had baseball’s two lowest slugging percentages — although Wong boosted his with a pinch-hit, go-ahead house run within the ninth inning for the Mariners in Minnesota.

For Winker, it’s a continuation of an influence outage that started final season as he handled neck and knee accidents. Winker and the Brewers hoped {that a} pair of surgical procedures, plus a change of surroundings, would unlock the participant who by no means produced an OPS beneath .830 in elements of 5 seasons with the Reds from 2017-21.

It has not, no less than not but. Winker did have one stint on the IL this season for a neck difficulty, however he refused in charge his well being for his lack of manufacturing.

“Man, I hate making excuses,” Winker mentioned Monday afternoon. “I’m not harm like I used to be final 12 months, however I believe I underestimated how exhausting it might be getting back from two surgical procedures. I actually suppose I underestimated that.

“Nevertheless it’s too late for that. It’s too late to second guess. I’ve performed like [crap]. It’s that straightforward. Lets say it’s the surgical procedures, lets say it’s this or it’s that. Is there some reality to these issues? Certain. However on the finish of the day, if I can stroll, it’s my job to stroll in right here and be capable of assist the workforce win. That’s how I have a look at it.”

His problem is that the probabilities to do this are rising sparse. With catcher William Contreras swinging a sizzling bat (.357/.387/.529 this month), he’s been the DH on days he’s not behind the plate. Supervisor Craig Counsell additionally intends to make use of Yelich because the DH extra usually within the weeks forward to maintain his common left fielder recent amid a resurgent season. Yelich is hitting .342 (54-for-158) with seven homers, 30 RBIs and 32 runs scored over his previous 40 video games.

“At this level, in truth, we’ve simply received to go along with the fellows who we predict can produce extra. We’re at that time of the season, for me,” Counsell earlier than Monday’s sport.

Winker has had success off the bench, going 5-for-12 with two walks as a pinch-hitter. Counsell and bench coach Pat Murphy knowledgeable him not too long ago that he’d have a extra restricted position.

“Managing a baseball workforce might be the toughest factor to do in sports activities,” Winker mentioned Friday afternoon. “I’ve at all times mentioned it, if you’re accountable for a gaggle of individuals, you must consider the collective, not only one particular person. I’m prepared for no matter.

“Clearly, you wish to play each day. I’m nonetheless a competitor. However I’m not right here to jot down the lineup, I’m right here when my quantity is known as to be prepared, and I really feel like I’ve performed a very good job of staying prepared. I’m excited to assist our workforce win.”