MILWAUKEE – One can only imagine the emotions running through Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins’ mind on the first Mother’s Day without his mom, Carisa Sharrett. She was diagnosed with colon cancer last March and passed away in July, all part of a brutal season on and off the field for her son.
On Sunday, he honored his mom’s memory by giving a stadium full of other moms a moment to cheer about.
The Brewers’ first hit off Yankees starter Carlos Rodón was Perkins’ two-out, two-run single for the lead in the fourth inning, capping a three-run rally in what turned into a walk-off 4-3 win at American Family Field to finish Milwaukee’s first three-game sweep of the Yankees since 1989.
“It’s been a lot of emotions for me today. Mostly joy and just getting to play for my mom today,” Perkins said. “I have so many family and friends back home who are supporting me.
"It’s good. It’s joy. A lot of joy.”
Perkins grew up in Litchfield Park, Ariz., in the western suburbs of Phoenix, which was fortuitous because it meant he was in town with the Brewers during last year’s Spring Training and could be at his mother’s side when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.
Perkins, who was sidelined by a fractured leg at the time that was stubbornly slow to heal, didn’t tell any of his teammates about his mother’s diagnosis until weeks after she passed away on July 3. She was 54 years old.
“I like to be private with stuff like that,” Perkins explained last fall. “I didn’t want the attention. There was so much good happening here and I didn’t want to mess that up. I wanted good, positive vibes in here.”
But he was hurting all year, understandably. He finally informed manager Pat Murphy and then-associate manager Rickie Weeks about his mother’s passing about a month later, but asked them to keep it to themselves.
He occasionally thought about bringing his teammates in.
“There were moments I was having some tough days,” Perkins said. “I think a lot of the guys could sense it. I think I was coming to terms with it. I didn’t want it to be real.”
By the time the Brewers made the postseason, Perkins decided to share his story publicly with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Todd Rosiak (subscription required). He received an outpouring of support and contributed to the Brewers’ victories in Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS against the Cubs, including a 2-for-4 performance in the opener.
This season, however, has been another struggle so far. Perkins was surprised to miss the cut for the Brewers’ Opening Day roster, only to be recalled on the eve of Opening Day when left fielder Jackson Chourio landed on the injured list with a fractured left hand. He was demoted to Triple-A last week when Chourio returned to action, and then was recalled once again after another outfielder, Brandon Lockridge, suffered a severe knee laceration in Friday’s win over the Yankees.
Perkins got his first start since being recalled on Sunday.
Mother’s Day.
"I’m just grateful I got to play today. That was pretty special,” he said. “I was looking forward to playing today.”
Brewers equipment manager Jason Shawger knew exactly what the day meant to Perkins, which is why Shawger had the baseball authenticated and placed in a case with a photo of Perkins celebrating once he reached second base on the play. Perkins also planned to have the bat authenticated for posterity.
“Honestly, once I got out there and the game started, it was all good,” Perkins said. “I would say the pregame stuff, just getting ready -- I’m not saying it was a bad emotion. Just that it was the first time, the first year I’ve celebrated this holiday without her.
“It was good. I felt her here with me.”