NewsSwindle relishing big league opportunity
Milwaukee (26-16) at Minnesota (20-23), 6:10 p.m. CT
R.J. Swindle is in the midst of his second trip of 2009 to the bigs. (Getty Images)
By Thor Nystrom / Special to MLB.com
05/23/09 2:28 AM ET
MINNEAPOLIS -- Brewers general manager Doug Melvin likes to look at "a series at a time." That is why, with a three-game Interleague series against the Twins this weekend, Melvin wanted an additional left-handed reliever to match up against a team that boasts lefties Denard Span, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel. Enter R.J. Swindle, who was recalled from Triple-A Nashville after Thursday's victory over the Astros. |
"Mitch Stetter has pitched a lot," Melvin said. "It'll roll around a couple times in a game where we might need a left-hander. So a second left-hander against this club was important. The Cardinals also -- we play them next -- they have three or four good left-handers there. So we thought we'd bring Swindle up now while we have the flexibility to do that."
Swindle put up a miniscule 0.55 ERA in 11 games for Nashville, allowing only one run in 16 1/3 innings. This will be the left-hander's second tour of duty with Milwaukee in 2009. He appeared in only one game with the Brewers previously, surrendering one run on two hits over 1 1/3 innings against Philadelphia on April 21. "I've always been able to be successful everywhere I've been," Swindle said. "I started off the season good, came up here and felt like I did OK, and went back down there and tried to keep doing what I've been doing. The one thing that is up this year is my walks -- I don't usually walk as many guys as I am this year. That's just a little minor adjustment mechanically that I have to make." Swindle has walked six batters this year after walking only eight total in 53 Minor League innings last year. Melvin likes what he's seen of Swindle. "He doesn't give up the long ball, he throws strikes, he gets left-handers out -- he's also gotten right-handers out," Melvin said."It's nice to know that your front office and your manager have confidence in you," Swindle said. "I'm hoping to come in here and prove them right. "
Swindle relishes the opportunity to get a crack at some of the game's top lefties, including Mauer and Morneau. "I know there are a lot of good lefties on [the Twins]," Swindle said. "It should be fun. It's definitely a challenge. Those are some of the best lefties in the game. I just hope to get out there and get the opportunity to get them out." He got that opportunity Friday, allowing two earned runs on two hits in one inning while striking out two. Swindle gave up a sixth-inning home run to Span. Pitching matchupMIL: RHP Braden Looper (4-2, 4.26 ERA)
Facing his former team in St. Louis on Monday, Looper bounced back nicely from a pair of starts in which he had surrendered five runs in each. Looper worked six innings and surrendered three runs, only one of which was earned because of a pair of Brewers errors. Looper is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in his three road starts this season. He has made three appearances at the Metrodome, but all three were in relief before he moved into the Cardinals' rotation three years ago. He surrendered two runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings over those games. MIN: RHP Anthony Swarzak (Major League debut)
Swarzak will be making his first Major League start Saturday after being promoted from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday to fill in for injured starter Glen Perkins. Swarzak was 3-4 with a 2.25 ERA for the Red Wings this season, allowing 40 hits, 11 walks and notching 32 strikeouts in seven starts. He will likely make just one more start before Perkins returns from the 15-day disabled list. If the Twins like what they see, Swarzak might be in line for a relief role, manager Ron Gardenhire said Wednesday. Tidbits
Struggling Bill Hall took extra batting practice prior to Friday's game. Brewers manager Ken Macha said Hall could get a start Sunday against Twins starter Scott Baker. Hall is 3-for-9 with two home runs and five RBIs in his career against Baker. "Today his batting practice was pretty good," Macha said. ... Macha has fond memories of the Metrodome, having won a playoff series against the Twins in 2006 while manager of the A's. ... Macha said Rickie Weeks will return to Milwaukee next week after undergoing successful wrist surgery. ... David Riske's scheduled debut at extended Spring Training in Phoenix on Friday was rained out and rescheduled for Saturday. Riske has been on the DL since April 16 with a tight right elbow. Tickets
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• Sunday: Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-0, 3.74) at Twins (Scott Baker, 1-5, 6.98), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 4-2, 3.83) vs. Cardinals (Chris Carpenter, 2-0, 0.00), 1:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Brewers (Jeff Suppan, 3-3, 4.71) vs. Cardinals (TBD), 7:05 p.m. CT
Thor Nystrom is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
