'I live for it': Abner Uribe now a perfect 3 for 3 in save opportunities

Make no mistake – the Milwaukee Brewers are a far better team with Devin Williams than without him.

But so far they're doing just fine in his absence, thanks in large part to Abner Uribe.

The right-hander improved to 3 for 3 in save opportunities after facing the minimum in the ninth inning of a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at American Family Field on Tuesday afternoon.

He logged his first career save in 2023, a season in which he flashed his immense promise with a 1.76 ERA over 32 appearances.

But that was with Williams in the mix, and having pitched ahead of him to get an eventual Brewers victory over the Chicago White Sox into the 10th inning.

Now, until Williams returns, Uribe is more often than not going to be The Man.

"I enjoy it, I live for it," Uribe said through translator Daniel de Mondesert. "I love the moment, and it's what I prepare for – to shut the game down."

Uribe had zero wiggle room in this one with the Brewers nursing a one-run lead.

But he immediately made things tough on himself by walking the first batter he faced in Carlos Correa. That brought up Manuel Margot, who two pitches later beat a 98.9-mph sinker into the ground.

First baseman Jake Bauers fielded it and made a strong throw to a covering Willy Adames at second. He, in turn, whistled the relay throw over to a covering Uribe at first, and the 6-foot-3 fireballer went into a semi-splits as he made certain of the catch – and the double play.

That brought up the dangerous (and well-known, since he finished the season last year in Milwaukee) Carlos Santana.

Santana swung at the first pitch he saw, a 99.2-mph sinker, that Brice Turang gobbled up at second base. His throw over to Bauers ended the game and wrapped up a 4-0 start to the season for Milwaukee for just the fourth time in franchise history.

Add in a Joel Payamps save against the New York Mets at Citi Field on Sunday, and the back end of that bullpen -- the whole bullpen, really, is looking awfully good.

"They're unreal, all these guys," said starter Jakob Junis, who was solid over four innings in his Brewers debut. "They're incredible. Guys throw gas, they can move it. We've got Hoby (Milner), the funky lefty. There's a whole mix of guys down there that can give a lot of different looks.

"There's a reason they were one of the best bullpens in the league last year, and it's a lot of fun to watch."

Uribe has so far allowed only one hit, a solo home run by Pete Alonso on Saturday that allowed the Mets to pull within 7-6. He's also struck out just two batters, which is a bit off-brand for a guy with such overpowering stuff.

But Tuesday's outing was a perfect example of being more than a one-trick pony; Uribe's sinker – if batters can hit it – can manufacture ground balls at a high rate.

"Strikeout, ground ball – whatever gets the out," Uribe said. "They all count the same."

Uribe generated some buzz after his second save in New York by putting his right index and middle fingers into an imaginary holster on his hip and then using those same fingers to shush the Mets dugout.

Probably not the wisest thing to do in the majors, where players typically have short fuses and long memories. But it's the emotion, manager Pat Murphy believes, that Uribe can make work for him if harnessed in the correct way.

"I think that's going to be key for him, is just to have those emotions serve him," he said. "If you don't control them, they won't serve you as much as much if you get off your rhythm or your thinking. He's learned so far and really kept his emotions under control and focused on his task.

"It means a lot to the guys around him who know that. Then you've got to kind of take it off yourself and say, 'Hey, this is for the boys,' and Abner's done that."

Uribe made his first run in from the bullpen on Tuesday to Kid Rock's "Cowboy," which was mentioned in his postgame interview.

"Yes sir," Uribe said. "I wanna be a cowboy."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'I live for it': Abner Uribe now a perfect 3 for 3 in save opportunities