Brewers: Tyler Cravy rocked again in loss to Marlins
By Phil Watson
Right-hander Tyler Cravy may have been a one-hit wonder, so to speak.
After dazzling the Milwaukee Brewers with his effort in his major-league debut against the St. Louis Cardinals in June, it’s been mostly diminishing returns for the 26-year-old.
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That continued Tuesday night as Cravy couldn’t get out of the third inning, allowing seven runs—four earned—on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings as the Miami Marlins won for the sixth time in eight games, beating the Brewers 9-6 in a wild one at Miller Park.
Cravy fell to 0-5 and his ERA ballooned to 6.67 in 27 innings. In three starts since replacing struggling Kyle Lohse in the rotation on Aug. 7, Cravy is 0-3 with a 10.50 ERA in 12 innings, allowing 17 runs—14 earned—on 19 hits while walking nine and striking out nine.
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Whether Cravy gets another shot is seriously up in the air, both because of his performance and the Brewers’ upcoming schedule.
“He pitched very well [in St. Louis],” manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com. “That was a good start against the best team in baseball, and on the road. Every start [since], there’s been an inning that he couldn’t get that last out or make that next pitch to limit damage.
“It’s a big part of it up here. Every inning is tough to get through and you have to limit damage at times. The one- or two-run innings, those won’t hurt you. But four- and five-run innings, those will cost you games.”
Milwaukee (51-70) has a couple of open dates coming up and won’t need a fifth starter until next month. That could mean Cravy is bullpen bound.
Miami (49-70) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Cravy loaded the bases with a hit batsman and a walk after Ichiro Suzuki singled with one out and Cole Gillespie tripled to right field to clear the bases.
Things came unglued after a 1-2 start to the third.
Derek Dietrich doubled and Gillespie walked before Adeiny Hechavarria slapped a sharp single up the middle, with Gillespie scoring and Hechavarria getting all the way to third when Logan Schafer’s throw was wild.
Hechavarria scored when Elian Herrera couldn’t come up with Tomas Telis’ grounder and Dee Gordon later drove in a run with a single to center. Suzuki’s single ended Cravy’s night and David Goforth got a popup to end the inning.
The Brewers got back into the game, chasing rookie left-hander Adam Conley with a four-run fourth inning.
Ryan Braun led off with a single and was wiped out on a force play on Khris Davis’ grounder. Jason Rogers doubled to left to put runners at second and third.
Hernan Perez singled to left to plate Davis and Herrera followed with a double that scored both runners.
Aug 18, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura (9) turns a double play as Miami Marlins center fielder Cole Gillespie (28) slides into second base during the sixth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Schafer walked and, after Goforth struck out by fouling off a two-strike bunt, Jean Segura flared a soft single to center to score Herrera.
Miami got a two-run single from Martin Prado in the fifth off Goforth to up the lead to 9-4.
The Brewers mounted a late rally in the ninth. Segura reached when first baseman Justin Bour booted his grounder and stole second base. Jonathan Lucroy singled to put runners at the corners and after a flyout, Davis reached when Hechavarria couldn’t handle his ground ball to shortstop, scoring Segura.
Rogers was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Adam Lind drew an RBI walk from A.J. Ramos to score another run before Herrera struck out to end it.
Kendry Flores (1-1) came on in the fourth and was awarded the win for retiring the only batter he faced.
Goforth was charged with two runs on four hits in two innings, striking out one. Neal Cotts worked 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and fanning a batter. Corey Knebel allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh.
Will Smith and Jeremy Jeffress each struck out two while setting the side down in order in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
Suzuki had his first four-hit game in more than two years and now has 2,919 hits in his major-league career.
Rogers went 3-for-4 in a start at first base and Segura finished 2-for-5 as Milwaukee had 11 hits on the night.
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Right-hander Wily Peralta (3-7, 4.07 ERA) gets the ball at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday as the Brewers try to salvage the finale of the six-game homestand. Right-hander Tom Koehler (8-10, 3.68) gets the start for the Marlins.
Peralta is 2-1 in five career starts against Miami, with a 2.20 ERA and 1.071 WHIP in 32.2 innings while recording 21 strikeouts. It’s his first start against the Fish this season after going 1-1 last year.
He threw seven scoreless innings Friday in a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Koehler is 0-1 in three career appearances, two of them starts, against Milwaukee, with a 9.75 ERA and 1.833 WHIP in 12 innings, fanning seven. He was 0-1 in two starts against the Brewers last season.
He has lost four straight starts, including a tough 3-1 decision at St. Louis on Friday when he allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts in seven innings.
Next: Marlins End Crew's 3-Game Win Streak