In Australia, Brisbane lost both seven-inning games and managed only five hits combined (one hit in Game One).

From Game One, RHP Paxton Schultz of the Brewers pitched a scoreless top of the 4th, with help from his Crew batterymate Nick Kahle (22 years old, 4th round, 2019).

Lineout, soft single, (CS at 2nd base), K looking.

To see Schultz' inning, go the 01:11:55 hour/minute mark just below. 14 pitches, 10 strikes.

By the way, very cool that Schultz will never forget his 23rd birthday - his Aussie debut!

Nick Kahle walked on a 3-2 pitch in the 2nd, grounded out hard to third base on a 3-2 pitch in the 4th, and struck out swinging in the 6th (1-2 count).



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In Game Two vs. Perth, 20-year-old RHP Michele Vassalotti of the Brewers retired all four men he faced on just ten pitches (eight strikes).

1-3 groundout, F-8 (both of those first pitch outs), and then retired former Brewer farmhand Jess Williams on a lineout to RF.

Came back out for one batter in the 7th, foul out to 1B.

To see Vassalotti's inning, go the 01:45:05 hour/minute mark below. Then come back at the 01:58:50 hour/minute mark for the final out of his stint.



21-year-old switch-hitting catcher Alex Hall plays for Perth and will catch the bulk of the Heat's games, but he was the designated hitter here.

Hall did not get to face his Rocky Mountain Vibes 2019 teammate Vassalotti, but hopefully caught up with all his former Brewer minor league teammates with Brisbane across the diamond.

Hall was 1-for-3, one K, and an F-9. Here's video of his RBI base knock.

In Tuesday's first game in Australia, Perth's Alex Hall guided four pitchers from behind the plate to a 12-2 win.

At bat, Hall walked and was hit by a pitch, scoring subsequent runs each time. In his first two plate appearances, he K'd swinging and popped out.

Wednesday 1/6:

Venezuela -

Alexander Palma played RF, 0-for-3, BB (OPS .778, 130 AB's)

Luis Castro played 1B, 1-for-4 (OPS .791, 94 AB's)

Thursday 1/7:

Venezuela -

Been a while since Alexander Palma had a multi-hit game.

Played RF, 2-for-3, double, run, K, before being replaced (box score)

Venezuela on Saturday 1/9 --

Alexander Palma played 1B, 0-for-3, one RBI (OPS .768, 141 AB's)

Luis Castro played 1B, 1-for-3, two more BB (second consecutive day on the multiple free passes), one R, one K (OPS .812, 99 AB's).

LHP Leo Crawford started Game One of the Nicaragua Winter League finals, but had a rough start (box score).

4.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

His Giants team has lost both games of the best-of-seven thus far, but there is an excellent chance Crawford will pitch another game barring a sweep.

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What was a quiet to non-existent Brewers Winter League campaign in locales like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico will now be silent, as the teams of Alexander Palma and Luis Castro, our two thread mainstays thus far, failed to reach the Venezuelan League playoffs.

By the way, the walk-off loss came on a ball lost in the sun, go to the 11:40 mark:

Our Thursday, Their Friday:

Perth defeated Brisbane, 5-1

Perth:

DH Alex Hall 0-for-4, two K's

Brisbane:

C Nick Kahle, 1-for-3, one throwing error

RHP Matt Hardy got the start - 2.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K

You can watch Hardy's start in the full game archive below.

See Kahle's line drive single at the 30:55 minute mark. (getting closer to the "Kale" pronunciation, but not there yet)

Perth and Brisbane play again Friday evening at 8:00 PM Central, you can watch it here, live and then archived: