Rocky start: Milwaukee Brewers pummeled 10-0 on Opening Day

The only way Opening Day could have gone much worse for the Milwaukee Brewers would have been if someone got hurt in their 10-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park.

OK, scratch that. There really wasn’t any way Opening Day could have gone worse for the Crew.

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

Ryan Braun, his thumb healthy for the first time since 2012, strained a rib cage muscle and is day-to-day and Kyle Lohse—making his first Opening Day start for the Brewers—was rocked for eight runs in 3.1 innings as the Rockies put up a 10-spot in the first four innings on Monday afternoon.

The onslaught started quickly as Colorado (1-0) scored four runs in the top of the first inning on doubles by Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Nolan Arenado and a two-run homer by Corey Dickerson.

The Brewers loaded the bases in the bottom of the second against first-time Opening Day starter Kyle Kendrick (1-0), making his debut for the Rockies after eight seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Aramis Ramirez started it with Milwaukee’s first hit of the season, a liner up the middle. Adam Lind followed with a single to left in his first Brewers; at-bat and one out later, Scooter Gennett was hit by a pitch to load ‘em up.

But Jean Segura hit a hard grounder to third that ended up as an inning-ending double play.

The Rockies came back with two more runs in the top of the third on a two-run homer by Arenado to make it 6-0.

The end for Lohse (0-1) came in the fourth. Kendrick led off with a double to left and moved to third on a wild pitch. After Lohse struck out Charlie Blackmon, Gonzalez drove in a run with a single up the middle.

Michael Blazek was summoned from the bullpen and served up a single to Tulowitzki. After a lineout left runners at the corners, Arenado singled up the middle to score Gonzalez, with runners moving up when Carlos Gomez couldn’t come up cleanly with the ball in center field.

Corey Dickerson made Milwaukee pay for the mistake with a two-run ground-rule double to left-center.

Lohse was pummeled for eight runs on 10 hits, striking out one and giving up the two long balls. Blazek worked 1.2 innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits.

Apr 6, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Former MLB commissioner Bud Selig throws the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Braun was hurt catching Justin Morneau’s lineout in the fourth and came out of the game in the sixth. He was 0-for-2 on the day at the plate with a strikeout and a foul popout.

Braun wasn’t talking much about the injury, not even whether he would need an MRI.

“Nothing’s set in stone. We’ll just see where it’s at [Tuesday],” Braun told MLB.com. “We’ll address it in the morning and then if it doesn’t feel great, then it’s probably something we would do.”

It was Milwaukee’s worst Opening Day loss since losing to the Baltimore Orioles 10-0 in 1973 and it was the first time the Brewers were shut out on Opening Day since 2001.

“It’s just frustrating that we played so well in spring training—especially at the end of spring training—and come out and just didn’t play well [Monday] at all,” Braun said. “Obviously, it’s not the way we wanted to start the year.”

Apr 6, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Corey Dickerson (6) reacts after hitting a 2-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Lohse (back) in the first inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Kendrick scattered seven hits over seven shutout innings, striking out six. Rafael Betancourt and Christian Friedrich each worked a scoreless inning to finish it off for Colorado.

The Brewers did get four shutout innings from Neal Cotts (two innings, one hit, three strikeouts), Will Smith (one inning, struck out the side) and Jeremy Jeffress (one inning, one walk).

Lind was 3-for-4 in his Brewers debut, all singles—Milwaukee did not have an extra-base hit. Ramirez was 2-for-3 to start what he says will be his final season and the Brewers mustered eight hits in all.

Lohse wasn’t getting too down after allowing eight earned runs for just the eighth time in 395 major-league starts.

“Doesn’t matter if it’s the first one, the last one or somewhere in the middle,” Lohse told MLB.com. “I don’t put any more pressure on myself because it was Opening Day or be any more disappointed because it was Opening Day. It’s disappointing to have a game like that.”

Live Feed

Reviewing the Brew

Lohse blamed a lack of execution on his part.

“I was frustrated,” Lohse said. “I wasn’t doing what I normally do, executing pitches. I kind of got outside of my normal sequences and you saw the result. I couldn’t get it back going. Usually I’m able to grind through and salvage something after the first inning, but it just didn’t happen [Monday].”

Tulowitzki was 3-for-5 with three runs, Arenado went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs and Dickerson went 2-for-4 with four RBI as part of Colorado’s 16-hit assault.

Even Kendrick was 2-for-3.

The Brewers will be back at it Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m., with Matt Garza (8-8, 3.64, 1.182 in 2014) facing right-hander Jordan Lyles (7-4, 4.33, 1.366 in 2014) for the Rockies.

More from Dairyland Express

• Packers Week 14 Rooting Guide: Best Outcomes for Playoff Odds
• What to Know: Packers reportedly sign RB Kenyan Drake
• Packers Rookie Ladder After Massive Win Over Chiefs
• What to Know: Packers claim CB David Long off waivers
• Bucks Film Room Podcast: 3 Positive Takeaways

Next: Henderson To DL; Brewers Open 2015 With Record-High Payroll