First Weekend Series of 2015 at Miller Park

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The crowds were large for the weekend series between the Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates, the parking lots were packed full of tailgaters and fans seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere and the energy that is Miller Park. If you have been to any of the games, you might have noticed a clock in right field below the Klement's sign that starts when a half inning finishes. This is part of two significant MLB changes for 2015.

Countdown clocks have been installed at each park telling players when to be ready to start the next inning. For most games, the clocks will count down from 2:25 between innings, with pitchers having to be ready at the 30-second mark and hitters having to be in the box from five to 20 seconds before 0:00. For nationally televised games (longer commercial breaks), the clocks will count down from 2:45.

The second change is that hitters must keep one foot in the batter's box between each pitch, except after foul balls. However, batters can still ask for time and adjust their batting gloves, belts, pants, helmets, necklaces, wristbands, earrings and whatever else they could possibly need to adjust between pitches. They just need to do it in the box.

The Brewers and the Pirates came into the weekend series each looking for their first wins. The Pirates caught fire in the first game collecting six runs on 10 hits and taking the opening game of the series 6-2 and getting their first win.

Friday's Game

In the eighth inning on Friday, Scooter Gennett was showing the collective frustration of the team as they struggled to find their offense. He slammed his bat into the ground after a called third strike, he barked his disgust and was promptly tossed by home plate umpire Mike Estabrook. Scooter had gotten married the day before at Miller Brewery, but I guess the marital bliss he was feeling prior to the game didn't carry over.

Ron Roenicke was not pleased with Gennett, stating after the game, "There's a part where you're in a ballgame where you have to realize what's going on in the game, who's left, and you got to keep yourself in the ballgame."

Carlos Gomez was moved from centerfield to fill in at second base, since Hector Gomez and Luis Jimenez were already used in pinch hitting situations, Roenicke had no infielders left. This was the first time in his professional career that Carlos played the infield, including the minors.

Saturday's Game

Roenicke started Hector Gomez on Saturday night at second base, as a message to Scooter and the rest of the team to keep their heads in the game. Gomez took advantage of his first start, smashing two doubles.

The Brewers Jimmy Nelson looked filthy, giving up only two hits and two walks while recording nine strikeouts in seven innings.

Will Smith and Jonathan Broxton finished up the game flawlessly as the Brewers went on to win 6-0, as they (finally) got their first win of the season.

Sunday's Game

Baseball Buddha

The Sunday game was Rob Deer bobblehead day. The bobblehead was to commemorate his three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth on Easter in 1987 when he crushed an 0-1 curveball into deep left field to tie the game 4-4. The Brewers went on to win and extended their winning streak to 12 games.

Carlos Gomez went yard in the third inning with a two-run homer to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead.

The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen answered on the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning from Kyle Lohse to deposit the ball in the Pirates bullpen in left field. It was a three-run shot giving the Pirates a 4-2 lead. Tyler Thornburg continued his early season struggles, giving up six runs in the top of the ninth.

The Brewers didn't have much of answer, as they seemed over-matched and outplayed.

"It is so early (in the season) that it is hard to look at the six games we have played and make an assumption that this is how we are going to play. I know we have a good club and we are going to play good baseball," Roenicke said after the disappointing loss to the Pirates in the series final. It's still so early in the season, there's no reason to sound the alarm just yet.

Good First (Base) Impression

Going into the weekend series, Adam Lind had six hits in his first 10 at-bats with the Brewers, which ties the franchise record for most hits in the first 10 at-bats with the franchise. He continued with his hot hitting against the Pirates and with his 9 hits through the first 5 games, he tied Paul Molitor (1978) and Dave Parker (1990) for the most hits through five games in Brewers' history.

Brewers Fan of the Week

Doug Dommer, 61, Oshkosh

"Santa Dougie" as he is known has been coming to Brewers games since they arrived in Milwaukee back in 1970. He says he averages 20 games a year. His favorite memory is the 1982 World Series. Robin Yount is his favorite all-time Brewer. Carlos Gomez is his current favorite. He isn't to worried about the Brewers 0-4 start since the 2011 Brewers started 0-4 and they went on to win 96 games, losing to the Cardinals in the NCLS.

"Santa Dougie" predicts the Brewers will win at least 90 games and make the playoffs. He has been dressing up in his Brewer overalls and coloring his hair and beard for about five years. It started when he was on a bus trip to a game from Oshkosh and two women were coloring their hair at a rest stop. They agreed to color his beard, which he now continues to do for every game he attends.

He has an affinity for County Stadium and the memories he had there, but he has warmed to Miller Park. His three grandchildren love to see him dressed up in his Brewer attire.

Brewers Spotlight: Jean Segura

Jean Segura, the starting shortstop for the Brewers, enjoys cooking and hails from San Juan in the Dominican Republic. Segura has started off the 2015 campaign well, batting .316 through the first six games. He's showing signs of a resurgence of the power he seemed to display at the beginning of his career, as he smashed a 440 foot home run on Saturday for his first home run on the season.

Segura was acquired from the LA Angels in exchange for Zack Grienke at the trade deadline in 2012. He entered the 2012 season rated as the Angels' second best prospect by Baseball America. Just three days before he was traded to the Brewers on July 24th, 2012, he made his Major League debut against the Kansas City Royals. He was signed at the age of 16 by the Angels on January 22, 2007.

He had a breakout season in 2013, batting .294 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI's and 44 stolen bases in 146 games for the Brewers, as he was named to the NL All Star team. However, his production fell off in 2014, batting .246 with five home runs, 31 RBI's and 20 stolen bases in 146 games.

Segura tied the franchise record with six hits, all singles, on May 28 versus Minnesota going six-for-seven with two runs scored and one RBI. He shares the distinction with Johnny Briggs (1973) and Kevin Reimer (1993).