(SportsNetwork.com) - Steady rainfall postponed Monday's scheduled series opener between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies, but the teams are set to try it again Tuesday under hopefully clearer skies.
Taking into account the gloomy forecast and an open date on the schedule -- and perhaps the Phillies' planned home-opening festivities -- the decision to push Monday's game back was made a full day in advance.
"It's miserable to sit out there for hours and not know if you're playing or not," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "It's always better to know that the weather is going to be fine the next day and we'll get it in."
Milwaukee swept the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, the first time the club pulled off that feat in more than 20 years. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been a big part of the Brewers' early success. He boasts a hit in all six games (11-for-25) and is 6-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Despite entering the season with dampened expectations, Philadelphia's 3-3 record is a bit of a disappointment considering the bullpen coughed up two late leads in Texas last week. The Phillies rebounded to beat the Cubs on Friday and Saturday at Wrigley Field, but they could not pull off the sweep on Sunday as starter A.J. Burnett was done in by a four-run first inning. The Cubs scored four more in the sixth and went on to win, 8-3.
The Phillies will now turn to Kyle Kendrick to start the team's home opener for the second straight year. Kendrick quieted a potent Rangers lineup in his 2014 debut last Wednesday, allowing just one run in seven innings. The 29- year-old will draw on the experience from pitching last year's first game at Citizen's Bank Park.
"First game at home. I'm looking forward to this year, too," Kendrick said. "Especially after going through it already, the adrenaline and everything will be kind of under control. Last year I handled it OK, but the experience helps.
Likewise, this won't be the first rodeo for Brewers starter Kyle Lohse.
"I've pitched Opening Days before, and it's no different," said, who pitched for the Phillies in 2007. "Two years ago, I opened the Marlins' new ballpark, and they had a lot of stuff going on that day. When you're starting, you're in your own bubble."
Lohse put together a quality start his first time out this year as he gave up three runs in seven innings against Atlanta. He also fanned eight batters in the process but took the loss.
As a unit, Milwaukee's starters have combined for a 1.65 ERA and have yet to give up more than three earned runs in any game.
Milwaukee won 5-of-7 meetings against Philadelphia last season.
[SportsNetwork.com]
