Unlikely Hero Helps Brewers Stay Alive : Schroeder Hits 3-Run Home Run to Help Beat the Angels, 4-3

Bill Schroeder, a .150 hitter, became a hero Wednesday night.

Milwaukee Manager Tom Trebelhorn became a prophet, and the Brewers stayed alive in the American League East with a 4-3 victory over the Angels.

“He put me in the lineup and I was as surprised as anybody else. I had given my playing time up for lost down the stretch,” Schroeder said after his 3-run homer tied the game in the seventh and the Brewers won on Jim Gantner’s run-scoring single.

Schroeder, who has appeared in only 41 games while mired in a season-long slump, got his chance to play when Trebelhorn had a “vision” before the game that Schroeder might hit a home run.

“I just felt Billy would hit tonight,” Trebelhorn said of his third-string catcher, whom he started at first base. “I thought he had a chance to light one up against (Angel pitcher Chuck) Finley. He’s hit him in the past and has been swinging well in batting practice.”

Milwaukee, sending the Angels to their ninth straight loss, got closer to the first-place Boston Red Sox, who lost to Toronto, 1-0. Detroit and New York each lost and remained 3 1/2 games back.

Milwaukee’s deficit is its smallest since May 11. The Brewers will finish the season with 3 games at Oakland, and Boston closes with 4 games at Cleveland.

“It’s an intriguing finish,” Trebelhorn said. “It’s good for baseball, no matter what happens. There are four different teams and Toronto.”

Finley took a 3-0 lead in to the seventh before Joey Meyer walked and Jeffrey Leonard singled. Schroeder followed with his fifth home run into a strong wind and finished Finley.

“How do you pitch to a buck-50 hitter?” Finely asked. “I felt strong out there but I just go that one pitch up.”

Reliever Sherman Corbett (2-1) walked B. J. Surhoff. Gary Sheffield’s sacrifice and a ground out moved Surhoff to third. Gantner then lined a 2-2 pitch to left for his third hit.

“We thought we had a realistic shot for second. Funny things happen in this game and I hope they keep happening,” Gantner said.

Chuck Crim (7-6) got one out in the seventh for the victory. Paul Mirabella pitched 2 perfect innings for his fourth save.

Brian Downing hit his 25th homer leading off the sixth against Juan Nieves. The Angels scored twice in the seventh on a walk to Mike Brown, a double by Bob Boone, a sacrifice fly by Dante Bichette and a single by Downing.

A crowd of 12,123 watched the Brewers’ final home game in 55-degree temperatures. Milwaukee drew more than 1.9 million fans, its third-best total attendance.