Jake Bauers went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday, but it was not enough to keep Milwaukee from falling 8-6 to the Nationals in Washington.
The 30-year-old has been making the most of extra at-bats in an injury-plagued Milwaukee lineup. Through 14 games, Bauers had an.822 OPS with nine runs scored, four home runs, two stolen bases and 10 RBI. He also drove in runs in four of his last six games, a steady stretch that has helped him keep producing while his playing time has grown.
That production has mattered because Milwaukee has needed it. Bauers' blend of power and speed has given the club an unexpected lift, even as the lineup around him has been hit by injuries. On Sunday, the solo shot was part of another game in which he reached base and added to his early-season totals, but the Brewers could not turn that into a win.
For Milwaukee, the loss was another reminder that Bauers is doing his part while the rest of the roster tries to catch up. The question now is whether he can keep that pace as the schedule moves on and the lineup begins to heal.
