Milwaukee Brewers sputter to 0-2 start
By Phil Watson
Hey, at least the Milwaukee Brewers scored Tuesday.
That didn’t prevent the Brewers from losing their second straight game to open the season, as the Colorado Rockies banged out 12 hits—hitting starter Matt Garza hard in the fourth inning—en route to a 5-2 victory over the Crew at Miller Park.
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Garza (0-1) surrendered four runs on eight hits in five innings while walking one and striking out two and grew concerned during a three-run outburst in the fourth inning that the Rockies were picking up his pitches.
Garza went so far as to change his signs, calling catcher Jonathan Lucroy out in the middle of the game to make the switch.
“They were on a lot of stuff [Tuesday],” Garza told MLB.com”. “It was pretty impressive.”
Garza grew concerned in the fourth when he was ahead of Colorado’s Corey Dickerson no balls and two strikes.
“Then he slides up on the plate as the pitch is called,” Garza said.
The pitch was a breaking ball in the dirt for ball one and two pitches later, Dickerson roped one of the Rockies’ six doubles in the game.
“Maybe they had something, maybe they don’t,” Garza said. “They’re locked in. There’s nothing you can do. My breaking stuff wasn’t sharp [Tuesday]. I don’t know why.”
The Rockies broke open a scoreless game with a three-run fourth inning. Nolan Arenado and Dickerson had RBI doubles in the inning and Nick Hundley stroked an RBI single.
Colorado (2-0) made it 4-0 in the fifth on an RBI single by Troy Tulowitzki.
The Brewers (0-2) got both of their runs in the bottom of the fifth off Rockies’ right-hander Jordan Lyles.
Gerardo Parra, starting in right field in place of injured Ryan Braun, led off the inning with a double to left and Jean Segura was hit by a pitch. Scooter Gennett loaded the bases with an infield single before pinch-hitter Logan Schafer grounded into a double play that scored Parra. Carlos Gomez then stroked a double to left to make it a 4-2 game.
Colorado added a run in the sixth off reliever Tyler Thornburg on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Gonzalez.
The Brewers had their first real base-running gaffe of the season in the fourth. Adam Lind led off with a double to center, but was thrown out easily at third base trying to stretch it into a triple.
Milwaukee did survive a scare when Segura was hit in the fifth. He stayed in the game after a pitch from Lyles glanced off his helmet and hit him in the face.
Segura thought he had broken his nose, but stayed in the game after going down in the batter’s box. Colorado catcher Nick Hundley furiously waved to the dugout for assistance.
“I asked the trainer if I was bleeding or something, because I thought my nose was broken,” Segura told MLB.com. “He said, ‘No, you’re not bleeding.’ Thank God it’s nothing serious and I can keep helping my team.”
Manager Ron Roenicke was also grateful it wasn’t worse.
“When he’s down and not moving, you’re not sure,” Roenicke said. “It’s huge to not lose him, but he stayed in the ballgame, which is really good. [Segura] is a big part. He’s playing nice defense and I think he’s going to hit.”
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Thornburg allowed a run on four hits in two innings, walking one and fanning two, Jonathan Broxton and Francisco Rodriguez each pitched one perfect inning to finish, with each right-hander posting one strikeout.
Lyles (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits in six innings. LaTroy Hawkins, the Rockies’ 201-year-old closer (OK, so he’s only 42), worked around a two-out single by Khris Davis to get his first save of the season.
Milwaukee had only six hits and has been outscored 15-2 in the opening two games.
Wily Peralta (17-11, 3.53 ERA, 1.304 WHIP in 2014) will try to get the Brewers on track when they close the series Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.
The Rockies counter with right-hander Eddie Butler (1-1, 6.75 ERA, 1.875 WHIP in three MLB starts in 2014).