Brewer fans, remember Earl Stephenson? No? Well, current Brewer Chase Anderson matched the 1972 starter for the Brewers when he took the mound last night at Target Field.

Stephenson garnered a 3-5 record, starting 8 games and made 35 appearances during the ’72 season, his only year in Milwaukee. Stephenson actually started the ’72 campaign as a long reliever, but midway though the season when he did get to start, he did it without allowing an earned run in his first two starts. A feat that had not been matched since Chase Anderson this season.

Earl Stephenson 1972

Stephenson’s run began on 6/25/72 when he spread out 6 hits over 7 innings, not allowing a run during the second game of a double header against the Red Sox at County Stadium. In his second start (also in Milwaukee) on 6/29/72, he went 7 and a third innings, allowing 6 hits, and a run, BUT it wasn’t earned due to an error. Stephenson’s streak came to an end in probably his best performance that season on 7/5/72, going 8 and two thirds innings in California against the Angels. He allowed 7 hits in that game, with the earned run coming with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in a  1-0 loss. That’s 23 innings over three games without allowing an earned run.

Chase Anderson – Target Field 4-18-16

As far as current starter Chase Anderson, he also went his first two starts in a Brewer uniform ( 11 innings) without allowing an earned run. On 4/8 against Houston he went 5 innings allowing 4 hits, and then on 4/13 in St. Louis he went 6 innings also allowing just 4 hits.

Monday night in Minnesota the streak came to an end in the bottom of the second when Twin’s right fielder Miguel Sano came to the plate and knocked a 3-2 pitch out of the park for a solo home run. Anderson went 12 innings over three games with out surrendering and earned run.

Miguel Sano 2nd inning home run

The end result the Brewers dropped the rain shortened game against the Twins 7-4, and fell another game under .500. As far as Anderson’s night he gave up 11 hits in his 5 innings  of work, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) and took the loss. The Crew will try to bounce back this afternoon when 0-3 starter Wily Peralta (10.13 ERA) takes the mound, first pitch is at 12:10 (CST).

My only question is: Why didn’t they play the final innings of the rain out before the game today? They’re in Minnesota not California…and Wednesday’s game is first at 6:30pm (CST). Come on Counsell you have to fight for these things.

(photos courtesy of: sfchronicle, sandiegouniontribune, brewers)