Milwaukee heads to New York to face the Mammoths before heading into the second round of divisional play.
Game 53: Milwaukee gets offense from both expected sources (four RBI for Nate Colbert, three RBI for Richie Hebner) and unexpected (three hits from Marcus Shady, a three-run homer by Don Cardwell) in a 15-9 series-opening win. The Riders score nine runs in the fifth inning. Tyron Carrigan has one hit in five at bats and his batting average falls to .500.
Game 54: Milwaukee gets back to .500 with a third consecutive double-digit scoring game, beating New York 12-3. Nate Colbert hits two homers, putting him in double digits for the season, and Jake Gibbs makes a triumphant return to the lineup with SEVEN RBI. Gibbs hit an RBI single in the second, a bases-loaded double in the fifth, and then a bases-loaded triple in the seventh. Tommy John gets the win, his third.
Game 55: Milwaukee's offense is stuck in mud after three straight double-digit outings, but Ron Reed is brilliant after a hiccup in the first, and the score is tied at one after eight innings. In the top of the ninth, Nate Colbert connects for his 11th homer, giving the Riders a 2-1 lead. Reed retires Reggie Smith in the bottom half, then gives way to Ted Abernathy, who gives up line drives to both Norm Cash and Ike Brown, but both right at a fielder. Abernathy has his third save and the Riders have a sweep.
Milwaukee heads home to face Kansas City (25-30)