Brewers lose in New York
Zach Davies has rough outing in 6-5 loss to the Mets.
NEW YORK - The Milwaukee Brewers tied a season high by homering three times, but it still wasn’t enough to overcome another uneven start by Zach Davies as they fell to the New York Mets, 6-5, on Friday night at Citi Field.
Davies (0-2) allowed seven hits, five runs and two walks while striking out four over 41⁄3 innings. He was hit hard from the outset, with the Mets scoring runs in the first and second before Hernán Pérez’s homer tied it at 2-2 in the fourth.
Todd Frazier hit his second homer off Davies in the bottom half to give the lead right back to the Mets. New York put the game out of reach by scoring three runs in the fifth, chasing Davies in the midst of the frame.
All three runs scored against reliever Dan Jennings, although only one was charged to him. He allowed a double, a walk and then threw a wild pitch.
Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the sixth and Travis Shaw added a solo homer in the eighth, but the Brewers could draw no closer as they fell to 5-1 in one-run games.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS
Brewers aren’t alone: The Mets received a double dose of bad news behind the plate Friday. Starter Travis d’Arnaud elected to undergo Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow and backup Kevin Plawecki was placed on the disabled list with a broken left hand. New York had to call up Jose Lobaton from Class AAA Las Vegas to start against the Brewers.
No reunion yet: Anthony Swarzak was a big part of the Brewers’ bullpen after the team traded for him near the deadline last season, ably filling the role of setup man. Milwaukee had interest in bringing Swarzak back in the off-season, but he instead signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Mets in December. The right-hander won’t face his old team until New York travels to Milwaukee at the end of May, as he’s currently on the DL with an oblique injury.
Familiar foe: There has been no bigger Brewer killer in recent years than Jay Bruce, who regularly faced Milwaukee as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Now playing right field for the Mets, Bruce entered Friday hitting .260 with 35 homers, 87 RBI and an .875 OPS in 133 career games against the Brewers. His homer and RBI totals against Milwaukee are far and away tops for Bruce against any opponent in his 11-year majorleague career. He lived up to his billing in the fifth, collecting a key RBI double against Jennings.
Is Cain able? Lorenzo Cain — celebrating his 32nd birthday — was moving fine early as he returned after a two-game absence caused by a left-quad injury. He walked in his first two plate appearances and even stole second. Cain also ran down a deep drive to center in the third inning, but in the fifth collided in right-center with Domingo Santana — a play that caused both players to come up gingerly but remain in the game.
Showing up: Jesús Aguilar and Pérez have suffered the most from the Brewers’ influx of position-player talent, but both made the most of their opportunities Friday. Aguilar started at first base and Pérez at second, and each delivered a couple hits. The two teamed up for the Brewers’ first two runs as Aguilar doubled and Pérez homered to drive him in to tie the game in the fourth.
RECORD
This year: 7-7. Last year: 8-6.
UP NEXT
Saturday: Brewers at Mets, 6:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (0-1, 3.38) vs. New York RHP Matt Harvey (0-0, 3.60). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: 620-AM.