(SportsNetwork.com) – Even an offensive showcase wasn’t good enough to help
the Milwaukee Brewers halt the worst start in franchise history.
The Brewers hope to avoid an eighth loss in a row on Wednesday night when they
play the third contest of a four-game set with the Cincinnati Reds.
Milwaukee went into last night’s game hitting just .208 as a team with 31 runs
scored and four homers. The Brewers padded those numbers with a big showing at
the plate, but still lost a 16-10 decision.
Second baseman Elian Herrera hit a grand slam and catcher Martin Maldonado
added a two-run homer in defeat, one that dropped Milwaukee to 2-12 on the
season. Herrera and Maldonado both found their way into the lineup due to
injuries to second baseman Scooter Gennett (hand) and catcher Jonathan Lucroy
(broken toe).
Milwaukee had scored only 10 runs total during the first six games of its
losing streak, but saw starter Mike Fiers yield eight runs — four earned —
on six hits and three walks over four innings to take the loss.
“For us to score 10 there and not even be close to winning, I don’t even know
how to explain it,” said Fiers. “Things aren’t going my way.”
Cincinnati countered Milwaukee’s surge with grand slams from Todd Frazier and
Jay Bruce, while Zack Cozart homered twice in the win. Jay Bruce added his
sixth home run of the campaign as the Reds have picked up back-to-back wins on
the heels of a 1-7 stretch.
Jason Marquis earned the win despite allowing five runs on nine hits over five
innings. He did strike out eight.
“Tonight was just a weird one for me,” said Marquis. “At times, I was as crisp
as can be, but when I did make mistakes it seemed like they were ready to jump
right over it.”
Johnny Cueto makes a fourth attempt at his first victory of the season tonight
for the Reds.
Cueto opened the campaign with a no-decision versus Pittsburgh before picking
up back-to-back losses against the St. Louis Cardinals. He took a home loss to
the Cards on April 11 despite giving up only one earned run, then suffered a
6-1 setback in St. Louis on Friday.
The 29-year-old righty struck out 10 batters over seven innings for the second
time this season, but also was charged with four runs on six hits. The bulk of
that damage came in the seventh inning when he followed up an intentional walk
by serving up a three-run double.
Cueto is 7-3 with a 3.06 earned run average in 16 career starts versus the
Brewers.
Starting for the Brewers tonight will be right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who split
a pair of starts against the Pirates to begin the campaign.
Nelson hurled seven scoreless innings to beat them at home on April 11. He was
then tagged for three runs — two earned — on five hits over five innings of
a 6-3 loss on Friday in Pittsburgh.
Nelson does not have a decision in three career appearances versus the Reds,
including one start, pitching to a 4.50 ERA for allowing four runs over eight
innings.
The Reds were 10-9 versus the Brewers last season, but lost six of nine in
Milwaukee.
