Suter injures arm again in rocky outing
After a one-day reprieve from bad things, it was back to that recent, disturbing trend Sunday afternoon for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Not only did starting pitcher Brent Suter get roughed up for five runs in the second inning in the 11-2 rout by the Los Angeles Dodgers at Miller Park, he exited shortly afterward with a forearm strain, the same malady that landed him on the disabled list earlier in the month.
It remains to be seen how serious Suter’s situation is, but a recurring forearm strain for a pitcher is not good. You have to figure he will be out for a while.
Though Ryan Braun’s failure to corral a popup behind first base opened the door for the Dodgers’ five-run rally in the second, Suter was hardly effective in his outing, surrendering two homers in two atbats to Matt Kemp. Suter had little success locating his fastball.
As if that weren’t bad enough, reliever Taylor Williams was rocked for the second time in the series, leading to another five-run outburst by the Dodgers that blew the game open in the fifth. In his first two outings of the second half, Williams has allowed nine hits and seven runs (five earned) in two innings.
How bad did it get? Bad enough for Brewers manager Craig Counsell to stop using real pitchers after six innings. Utility player Hernán Pérez took the mound to open the seventh and, sadly enough, became the most effective “pitcher” of the day for the home team with two scoreless frames.
Backup catcher Erik Kratz took over for Pérez in the ninth inning as the Brewers covered a third of the game with position players on the mound. That’s the kind of day it was.
The frustrations of Braun said it all. Not only did he have issues in the field, including an official error on a muffed grounder by Max Muncy in the fifth, he played pepper all day with shortstop Manny Machado, who robbed him of hits in three consecutive at-bats on wellstruck balls.
As has been the case all too frequently of late, the Brewers' offense was mostly quiet.
So, the sagging Brewers opened the second half by losing their third series in a row. They have dropped eight of their last nine games and nine of 11.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS
AGUILAR GETS SOME REST: First baseman Jesús Aguilar, who didn’t get much of a break while participating in the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, was given the day off by Counsell. “Aguilar is battling some (sore) hamstrings, had some cramping last night,” Counsell said. “We’re going to give him a day (off ). I was targeting Wednesday for a break but we’ll give it to him today.”
DON’T READ HIS BODY ENGLISH: On the subject of rest at the break, Counsell was asked if all-star Lorenzo Cain looked tired at all upon returning from Washington. Counsell smiled, knowing full well that Cain’s unique body language makes it impossible to know for sure. “Judging Lo’s body language, he does a great Willie McGee impression,” said Counsell, referring to the former player who often looked pained to take his next step.
YELICH HANDLING LEFTIES: Christian Yelich came out of the All-Star Game swinging a hot bat, going 5 for 9 with a homer and four RBI in the first two games against the Dodgers. The lefty-hitting Yelich has fared quite well against lefthanders this season, taking a .322 batting average (28 for 87) into play Sunday with a .854 OPS, including a game-tying homer Saturday against Clayton Kershaw.
THAMES COULD BE ACTIVATED: First baseman/outfielder Eric Thames is eligible to be activated from the 10-day disabled list, but the Brewers won’t know if that’s going to happen until Thames gives his right hamstring a good test Monday. “It’s a possibility,” Counsell said. “He’ll participate in live BP with (pitcher) Zach (Davies) tomorrow, take some live swings. He’ll do some running and stuff, and see what that brings.”
A NIGHT OF HONORS: The Brewers will honor two former players and two former general managers Tuesday before the game against Washington. Geoff Jenkins will be inducted into the Miller Park Walk of Fame and Prince Fielder, Harry Dalton and Doug Melvin will go into the Wall of Honor. Jenkins, Fielder and Melvin will be on hand, and Pat Dalton will represent her late husband. Jenkins is the 20th member of the Walk of Fame.