Brewers battle in 'measuring stick' series vs. NL's best team

PHILADELPHIA -- Rhys Hoskins is likely to remember his emotional return to Citizens Bank Park for quite some time. The Brewers may keep it in their memory banks as a reminder that they can play with the best baseball has to offer.

Hours before the game, manager Pat Murphy was intrigued to see how his Crew matched up against the Phillies, who had a 1-2-3 punch of Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Aaron Nola lined up for the three-game set.

“We're facing their best guys; it's a good measuring stick for a lot of things,” Murphy said before the game. “Not necessarily, ‘We're better than this team,’ but we can gauge some things where guys are facing some of the best in the game. I'm excited. It's a great opportunity for us. We’ve been underdogs all year.”

It’s far too early to hype this week as a potential postseason preview, but if the two clubs continue down their respective paths, it’s not out of the question that the Brewers could find themselves back in Philly this fall.

Although Monday’s 3-1 loss is obviously a small sample size, Murphy liked the way his club competed against the red-hot Phillies.

“One game doesn't gauge anything; the only thing you can gauge is that for 60 games, this team hangs in there every game,” Murphy said. “We’re never out of it and I’m really proud of that.”

Only six of the Brewers’ 24 losses this season have been by four runs or more, numbers that back up Murphy’s assertion.

“We look at these as great opportunities,” Murphy said. “They’ve got a great club. I like a lot of their guys; they play right. It's fun to be here. It’s great for our guys every time they can be in this environment.”

Murphy’s decision to use Jared Koenig as an opener proved to be the right one, as the lefty retired the top of the Phillies’ lineup on five pitches. Koenig may very well find himself in the same role on Tuesday, charged once again with the task of facing Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper.

The Brewers went 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position against Wheeler, and although no runs resulted from either hit, it took a couple of well-executed performances by the Phillies to make that happen.

“We didn't take advantage,” Murphy said.

In the third, Blake Perkins’ single with runners at first and second loaded the bases for the Brewers with nobody out. Wheeler, whose 2-0 lead suddenly looked tenuous, induced a 1-2-3 double play off the bat of Brice Turang, then struck out William Contreras, extinguishing what had been a promising inning.

“We’ve got bases loaded, nobody out; it’s just unfortunate,” Murphy said. “Brice has been one of our catalysts all year long and Wheeler made good pitches. Credit Wheeler for getting out of that.”

Two innings later, Hoskins walked and stole second base against former teammate Realmuto, moving into scoring position with two outs. Perkins delivered another RISP hit, but Johan Rojas charged it and fired a strike to the plate, where Realmuto tagged Hoskins for the third out.

“You have to make that guy throw you out,” Murphy said. “Heck of a throw and a bang-bang play.”

Bryse Wilson allowed two runs on four hits in the second inning after taking over for Koenig, but the right-hander gave up only two hits -- including a solo homer by David Dahl -- over his next five frames, giving Milwaukee 5 2/3 solid innings it desperately needed.

“Obviously one of the -- if not the -- best teams in baseball at the moment, that brings its own pressure,” Wilson said. “I don't think I put a lot of pressure on myself. It was just go out, execute; I know I can get them out if I just execute my pitches.”

Hoskins, who soaked in a standing ovation as he stepped to the plate in the second inning, wasn’t as popular when he took Wheeler deep in the seventh, his solo shot finally putting the Brewers on the board.

That turned out to be the Brewers’ lone run of the night, but Murphy was pleased with the way his team was able to put any adversity behind it and grind through against the talented Phillies.

“These are a bunch of guys that love to play; they keep coming at you,” Murphy said. “We battled and didn't come up big when we had to, but give credit to our guys, too. They hung in there.”