PITTSBURGH -- Cooper Pratt had a front-row seat to the Brewers’ National League Central clinch, just not the kind he probably imagined.
The rookie shortstop spent Tuesday night back at the team hotel on the other side of the Allegheny River, stuck there after an illness knocked him out for the day. While his teammates were doused in champagne, Pratt was away from PNC Park, listening in and waiting for the final result that would seal the division.
He felt the symptoms hit on Monday, the Brewers’ off-day, when the club arrived late in Pittsburgh. Concerned he might be contagious, the team kept him at the hotel on Tuesday so he could rest. Pratt said the day was rough from the start.
“I didn’t really sleep the night before,” he said. “I felt absolutely terrible all day. I’m pretty sure that’s the first time in my life I’ve missed a game because I was sick.”
He couldn’t even watch the game on TV, so he settled for the Brewers’ radio feed on Gameday Audio, with Lane Grindle and Josh Maurer calling the club’s 5-1 win over the Pirates. After that, Pratt flipped over to the final innings of Braves-Cubs, waiting for the result that would finish the job.
Once the Cubs lost, the Brewers had their clinch. Pratt just wasn’t there for the celebration.
“He called and wanted to come in to the celebration,” manager Pat Murphy said. “We said, no.”
Brice Turang said the team understood why Pratt stayed away, even if it meant missing his first division-clinching celebration.
“It’s too bad he missed the first one in his career, but sometimes you have to do what’s best for yourself and look out for the team,” second baseman Brice Turang said. “We all wish he was here.
There was definitely some conversation about him not being here, but we all know what it’s like when you’re down bad and you don’t want to bring it into the clubhouse. We’re going to need him in the long run.
If that day [away] is what it takes, then so be it.”
The Brewers made sure Pratt still had something to remember it by. He got the Division Champs T-shirt the players wore during the celebration, and because he doesn’t drink alcohol, the team saved him a bottle of sparkling cider.
The next day, Pratt was back where he belonged. Starting against the Pirates on Wednesday at PNC Park, he collected two hits, drove in a run, scored once and stole a base in Milwaukee’s 5-4 win.
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