The Milwaukee Brewers fell further off the pace on Thursday, arriving in San Diego and promptly doing nothing worth note — except surrendering seven straight singles and nine runs to the Padres.
It took Doug Davis way too many pitches to even fall behind 0-4, and Jeff Suppan came in to replace him, allowing five more runs. Brewers squandered a few opportunities. Carlos Gomez hit into a double play and Rickie Weeks struck out with runners on base, Gomez and Ryan Braun were thrown out on base running mistakes.
Manager Ken Macha said long relievers Carlos Vargas and Manny Parra would not be available to pitch, and with the sizable deficit, it was clear Suppan would stay on the mound. Once the damage was done, neither team could put much of anything together, as Suppan and Padres reliever Tim Stauffer cruised with an increasingly pitcher-friendly strike zone.
Ryan Braun bristled at a called strikeout — several Padres seemed unpleased with calls but wouldn’t argue with a win practically in hand. It seemed Braun’s trademark confidence bordering on cockiness was shifting to utter frustration.
The Brewers might be in for an early West Coast blow up if these next three San Diego games continue in this vein — like last year, when things were falling apart and Prince Fielder tried to fight the entire Dodgers clubhouse. However, the way the Dodgers are playing, a visit to Chávez Ravine might be just the thing to get the Crew back on track.
Comments
last night wasn't much better. should have never lost that game in extras. should have won it in 9. now we're slumping real bad.
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