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Milwaukee Brewer Reliever Zach Braddock tends to have initial advantage | brewers.com

June 27, 2010

By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com

MILWAUKEE -- One thing about the matchup between lefty reliever  Zach Braddock (photo) and pinch-hitter Jim Thome in the BraddockZ10PS001-200x300 Brewers' 5-3 win over the Twins on Wednesday really stood out to manager Ken Macha: Thome had not previously faced Braddock.

Since calling Braddock up before the series finale at Target Field on May 23, the Brewers have seen the 22-year-old hard-throwing lefty enjoy plenty of success against hitters the first time he faces them.

"If you haven't faced Braddock, you don't realize how the ball jumps up on you," Macha said. "The first time you face somebody like that ... he hides the ball, it jumps on you."

In Thome's first at-bat against Braddock, the left-handed slugger went

down swinging at a 1-2 slider.

After getting Thome to strike out to end the sixth, Braddock struck out another batter who had not previously faced him in center fielder Denard Span. Braddock followed that up with his third strikeout of the game, getting Orlando Hudson -- who doubled off Braddock in Minnesota -- to go down swinging.

Similar to Braddock has been reliever Kameron Loe, whose movement on his fastball has surprised even his manager at times.

"The movement of Loe's fastball is off the charts," Macha said. "I remember back to an at-bat somebody had in Florida and I thought they were all sliders -- they were moving so much -- but they were all fastballs."

Loe saw some adjustments by hitters in his second inning on Tuesday night, but impressed by striking out third baseman Michael Cuddyer for the second straight night on Wednesday.

According to Macha, the key for Loe is to get the first-pitch strike.

"The at-bat against Cuddyer, strike one was very important," Macha said. "That kind of forced Cuddyer to swing, because he took strike one. They know the ball's sinking a lot, so strike one was very important for him.

"We'll see how these guys progress as they get out there a little more in the scouting report."

Braddock graduated from Gloucester Catholic High School in 2005 where he played baseball under Coach Dennis Barth. He also pitched and played first base for the Brooklawn American Legion Team. In 2005 he was 18th draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.

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