West coast games have not agreed with the Brewers this season. For the sixth time this season, the Brewers gave up double-digit runs in a game, and three of those have happened on the west coast. This time, it was an 11-2 loss to the Padres on Wednesday night in San Diego.
The game started off well enough for Kyle Harrison, who needed just ten pitches to get through the first inning despite allowing a single. However, it all started falling apart in the second. The inning started with back-to-back
singles by Jackson Merrill and Austin Hays. Then, with runners at first and second, catcher Luis Campusano hit a ground ball directly to David Hamilton at third base. It was a tailor-made double play at minimum, and potentially even a chance at a triple play. Hamilton stepped on third and threw to Jihwan Bae at second, but Bae missed the catch. It should have been a error, but is not counted as one since by rule, you can’t assume a double play will be turned.
That loomed large as the inning continued. Xander Bogaerts popped out for the second out, but then Jake Cronenworth hit a double to left to score a run. After that, Fernando Tatis Jr. worked a full count, and then drew a walk after a challenge on a called strikeout. That brought up former Brewer Luis Rengifo. On the second pitch he saw, Harrison threw a fastball right down the middle, and Rengifo sent it far out over the left field fence. The Padres had a 5-0 lead.
From there, it might as well have been an insurmountable lead as the Brewers flailed against Walker Buehler. In his six inning start, he threw just 58 of his 98 pitches for strikes, and that was with the Brewers’ hitters taking some bad swings. They did get a run off him in the third on a Jackson Chourio groundout with runners at second and third base, but that was all. That was the only run Buehler allowed, finishing his day with just one run, three hits, and two walks allowed while striking out five.
Meanwhile, Harrison had to keep pitching to not use up the bullpen, but his struggles were not done. He allowed a solo home run to Tatis Jr. on the first pitch of the fourth inning. The next inning, he allowed a two-run home run to Campusano. His day came to an end at 4 2/3 innings pitched, allowing eight runs on ten hits and three walks with just three strikeouts. His fastball velocity was notably down throughout the start, averaging between 92 and 94 mph, and topped out at 94.5 mph.
Bryse Wilson, fresh on a new contact after he elected to become a free agent, ended up as the bulk pitcher for the next few innings. The Padres scored three more runs off him in the sixth, but he made it through the seventh scoreless. He pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Gary Sánchez came in to both pitch and hit in the eighth inning. Despite allowing two hits while featuring a 35 mph curveball and fastball that topped out at 87 mph, he made it through the inning scoreless.
The Brewers did get one run back in the ninth off of Griffin Canning. Singles from Luis Lara and Andrew Vaughn put two runners on base, and Brice Turang doubled to right to score one run. That was in as Brandon Lockridge grounded out to end the game.
Despite entering the game in the seventh inning, Vaughn led the offense with a two-hit day. The only other batter to reach base twice was Garrett Mitchell, who had a hit and a walk. As a whole, the offense managed just seven hits and three walks.
The Brewers will look to salvage a game in this series tomorrow afternoon in the series finale. Dustin May will face Robbie Ray on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m.
