by The Milwaukee Brewers fell to the San Francisco Giants, 15-1, in an ugly game they’d rather forget, but it wasn’t hard to see why their minds might not be completely focused on the action between the white lines at American Family Field on the night of Friday.
The Brewers played with attention naturally diverted for most of the game after shortstop Willy Adames was hit in the head with a free kick while on the top step of the dugout in the second inning.
As manager Craig Counsell put it, “You’re worried.”
Adames, the heart of the Brewers, who was named the team’s MVP in each of his two seasons with the team, left the stadium and was taken to the hospital for further imaging and testing after Brian Anderson fouled a field goal. Giants pitcher Alex. Wood went directly into the first base dungeon and hit Adames directly.
“Initially, from the sound it made, I thought it hit the padded pad,” said Brewers infielder Mike Brosseau on deck at the time. “The way they reacted to it, you’re getting scared, and then after a few seconds of them on the bench I realized it was a little more serious than that. I heard more than I saw.”
Watch all games: Latest MLB scores and schedules
Images taken after Adames was taken to the hospital showed no fractures.
Adames will be kept in hospital overnight and likely released on Saturday morning. He will demand a list of those injured with a concussion, but all things considered, Counsell noted, the news could have been much worse.
“He was alert and responsive when he left, and we also got good news at the hospital,” Counsell said. “Obviously he is in pain. But I think overall I don’t think it’s bad news considering how scary it was.
The Brewers played out of control afterwards – and understandably so.
“It’s definitely a factor. I’ve always said: Willy is the catalyst for this team,” said Brosseau. “What he brings to this team, what he means to this team, to see him go down like that and nobody really knows the severity of it, it’s very scary, very scary.”
Peralta, one of Adames’ best friends and a closet neighbor at the clubhouse, had to take the mound just minutes after Adames was hit. He gave up seven runs in the next inning, though only two of those were clinched after the Brewers – who were confused overall – made mistakes on three separate groundballs.
“It affected everyone for sure, certainly Freddy as the guy who has to go out there and pitch, and as close as they are, as close as anyone,” Counsell said. “It just wasn’t a good night.”
JD Davis and Mitch Haniger each had runs with a double in the inning, so three batters after Peralta would have been out of the inning if not for the errors, Giants second baseman Brett Wisely hit a three-run homer to blow up the open game, 10-1.
“It was really tough for me because of some feelings inside of me and everything,” said Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. “I knew I had a game and I had to get back on the mound. But I had that in mind. It was tough for me.”
San Francisco would go five runs against reliever Ethan Small, who was making his season debut with Milwaukee.
The Brewers opened the game by loading the bases with no one out against Wood, but scored just once on a Christian Yelich double play.
Peralta said he planned to try to visit Adames on Friday night after leaving the stadium.
We’ve known each other for years,” Peralta said. “We’ve been together, friends together — close friends together — for seven, eight years. It’s hard to see someone you love having that moment.”
