Energy crisis
Struggling Brewers have hit the wall
PITTSBURGH – The Milwaukee Brewers looked like a team running out of steam Friday night, not a total shock considering they were playing for the 18th consecutive day.
But here’s the problem the Brewers have as they stagger toward the allstar break: They still have a doubleheader against Pittsburgh on Saturday and one more game Sunday before getting four badly needed days of rest.
So, the Brewers must regroup and find a way to win some games before the break or finish the first half with a totally miserable week, which would put a damper on what had been a terrific three-plus months.
Looking mostly listless in a 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh at PNC Park, the Brewers fell to 1-4 on this trip that began with three games in Miami, including two extra-inning defeats.
Asked if his team looked weary, manager Craig Counsell said, “I don’t think we’ve pitched well; I don’t think we’ve swung the bats well. That’s been the answer the two nights. We haven’t put together either side of the game.
“We’re 90 games in. We’ve got 70 games to go. It’s not time to be tired.”
This one was ugly from the outset as the fourth-place Pirates scored three runs in the first inning against Junior Guerra, who showed little or no command of his pitches. The sagging Brewers needed a solid outing from their starter but Guerra instead turned in his worst performance of the sea-
son, allowing nine hits and six runs in four innings before departing.
“It was just a rough outing for him,” Counsell said. “They swung the bats well against him; a lot of balls in the middle (of the plate) that got hit.”
Meanwhile, the Brewers’ offense offered little resistance against Pittsburgh rookie pitcher Nick Kingham, who entered the game with a 3-4 record and 4.26 earned run average in eight outings. They pushed across a run in the third on Hernán Pérez’s RBI single but Lorenzo Cain grounded into a double play with two on and one out to end that rally.
“We’re still going to need to score runs,” Counsell said. “It was pretty quiet there for a bunch of innings.”
The Brewers didn’t collect another hit off Kingham until pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who came up from Class AAA Colorado Springs for his fifth stint this season, ripped his first major-league homer into the right-field stands leading off the sixth.
“That’s something that not everybody, especially a pitcher gets to do,” said Woodruff, who pitched three scoreless innings behind Guerra.
Travis Shaw cut the Pirates’ lead to 6-3 with a one-out homer to center in the seventh, his 17th of the season.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS
THAMES EXITS WITH HAMSTRING ISSUE: Eric Thames started in right field for the Brewers but exited in the third inning with right hamstring tightness. Pérez batted for Thames that inning and delivered an RBI single.
MACHADO SWEEPSTAKES CONTINUE: The latest reports Friday indicated the Philadelphia Phillies had moved ahead in the pursuit to trade for Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado but there really was no way to know for sure. The Brewers, Dodgers and Yankees also have expressed strong interest with no indication the Orioles will make a deal any time soon. Whether it’s Machado or anyone else, assistant general manager Matt Arnold said the Brewers felt no need to get something done before the second half begins Friday. “Not really,” he said. “We feel good about our group of players. We can wait to see what’s out there.”
SUTER TO PITCH IN DOUBLEHEADER: Left-hander Brent Suter will come off the DL after a bout with forearm tendinitis to start the second game of the doubleheader Saturday against the Pirates. Suter was sidelined for 11 days.
SUBERO WILL PITCH TO AGUILAR: First baseman Jesús Aguilar will have first base coach Carlos Subero pitch to him as he competes in the AllStar Home Run Derby on Monday night. “He’s been throwing BP for almost two years, and he knows me good. That’s why I chose him,” Aguilar said.
TRIBUTE TO THE NEGRO LEAGUES: In the Pirates’ annual tribute to the Negro Leagues, the Pirates wore replica uniforms of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Brewers dressed as if they were the Milwaukee Bears. The Brewers will play their Negro Leagues tribute game at Miller Park on Friday, Aug. 3, against Colorado.
RECORD
This year: 55-40 Last year: 52-43
COMING UP
Brewers at Pirates, doubleheader, 11:35 a.m. Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (6-6, 3.81) vs. Pittsburgh RHP Ivan Nova (5-6, 4.50). Milwaukee LHP Brent Suter (8-5, 4.53) vs. Pittsburgh RHP Clay Holmes (0-1, 7.11). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.