Brewers: Tempers erupt in 4-2 loss at San Francisco
By Phil Watson
The Milwaukee Brewers were high on drama Monday night at AT&T Park in San Francisco, but low on runs in a 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Center fielder Carlos Gomez and manager Craig Counsell were ejected in the ninth inning after Gomez was called out upon review of a stolen base attempt at second base.
ALSO ON DAIRYLAND EXPRESS: Milwaukee’s Best: The Best Of Braves, Brewers
Gomez had led off the inning with an infield single and tried to get into scoring position. He was initially called safe, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy challenged the call, which was overturned.
Gomez spiked his helmet into the ground and was ejected by third base umpire Gerry Davis.
When Counsell came out to defend his player, he too was tossed—the first ejection in his career of more than 1,700 big league games as a player and manager.
“It’s stupid because I’m not even looking at the umpire,” Gomez told MLB.com. “I never argue about pitches, about calls, about nothing, and you throw your helmet when you’re frustrated and [ticked] off, they throw you out? That means, like, the next night you don’t respect the guy.
More from Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers are making a bold bet with Jackson Chourio
- 5 Pitchers Milwaukee Brewers Should Trade For
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 trade packages the New York Mets could make for Corbin Burnes
- This former player will eventually manage the Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 trade packages the Baltimore Orioles could offer for Corbin Burnes
“Early in the game, they call me on a check swing and [it was] not even close and I’m smiling and making a joke with him. Then I throw my helmet and throw me out of the game? How do you respect the game, how do you respect the umpires, with stuff like that?”
For his part, Counsell simply said, “You can’t get thrown out there.”
The matter was exacerbated when Scooter Gennett doubled to center after Khris Davis struck out, a hit that almost certainly would have scored Gomez from first base.
Instead, Gennett advanced to third on a wild pitch by Giants reliever Sergio Romo and was stranded when Jean Segura struck out to end the game.
The loss was the third in a row and fifth in six games for the Brewers (43-57) after a four-game winning streak coming out of the All-Star break. The Brewers played without first baseman Adam Lind, out for a second straight game with tightness in his back, and right fielder Ryan Braun, who was scratched after his back tightened up during batting practice.
Kyle Lohse (5-12) didn’t pitch terribly—Counsell said he earned another start, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and pitching into the seventh inning for just the third time since May 15.
After the game was scoreless through three innings, Lohse made his seemingly obligatory mistake in the fourth, serving up a two-run homer to Brandon Crawford after Brandon Belt had driven in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly.
Lohse is the first pitcher in the majors this season with 12 losses.
“Except for that one inning, I felt pretty in control,” Lohse said. “I just fell behind a couple guys and obviously the home run hurt a lot. But I felt I had a lot better control of the game than the last couple starts.”
Lohse did not strike out a batter, the first time in more than two years (July 8, 2013) he pitched at least six innings without recording a strikeout, according to Baseball-Reference.com. It was the eighth time in his career he had pitched at least six innings with zero strikeouts.
Milwaukee snapped a 23-inning scoreless streak in the sixth. Gerardo Parra, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning single, drew a one-out walk and scored when Jonathan Lucroy cracked a double to center field.
Lucroy moved up to third on a fly out by Gomez and scored when Davis singled up the middle, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
San Francisco (55-44) got an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double by pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco, batting for starting pitcher Chris Heston (11-5).
Heston allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, walking three and fanning four.
Neal Cotts got out of the seventh, striking out Joe Panik with a runner at third. Michael Blazek struck out one and allowed a hit in a scoreless eighth.
Romo got his second save of the season, with closer Santiago Casilla unavailable after throwing 35 pitches in back-to-back outings over the weekend.
Davis was 2-for-4 for the Brewers, who finished with seven hits. Matt Duffy had three of San Francisco’s six hits.
The series continues at 9:15 p.m. Central on Tuesday, with right-hander Wily Peralta (1-5, 4.00 ERA) scheduled to make his first start in more than two months after being sidelined by a strained left oblique.
The Giants counter with right-hander Matt Cain (2-1, 4.09 ERA).
Peralta is 2-1 in four career starts against San Francisco with a 5.40 ERA and 1.800 WHIP in 20 innings, striking out 17. He was tagged for six runs on nine hits in three innings in his last appearance against the Giants last Aug. 29, taking the loss in a 13-2 defeat at AT&T Park.
In his last start before the injury, Peralta took the loss in a 5-1 decision at Citi Field against the New York Mets, allowing five runs on nine hits in five innings, walking three and fanning five.
Live Feed
Reviewing the Brew
He had pitched four shutout innings, allowing one hit and two walks with two strikeouts, before he was hurt on May 22 in Atlanta.
Cain is making just his fifth start of the season. He returned July 2 after missing three months with a strained flexor tendon in his forearm.
He is 3-7 in 11 career starts against Milwaukee, with a 4.81 ERA and 1.288 ERA in 73 innings, striking out 67.
He hasn’t faced the Brewers since giving up two runs on four hits in seven innings with six strikeouts in a 3-1 loss at AT&T Park on Aug. 6, 2013.
Cain got the win his last time out, allowing a run on five hits in six innings, with a walk and six strikeouts, in a 7-1 win at San Diego on Wednesday.
Next: Report: Cardinals Have Inquired About Lind