Bullpen Ruins Zack Greinke's Potential Farewell Game, Brewers Lose 7-6

W: Michael Schwimer (1-1)
L: Kameron Loe (4-4)
S: Jonathan Papelbon (22)

HR: Ryan Braun (27), Zack Greinke (1), Carlos Gomez (7), Aramis Ramirez (11), Erik Kratz (3)

MVP: Zack Greinke (+.299 WPA hitting, +.131 pitching)
LVP: Kameron Loe (-.738)

Win Expectancy Graph

If this is it for Zack Greinke as a Brewer, then at least we got to see one last great outing and a perfect example of why this Brewer team isn't good enough to justify keeping him around this season.

Greinke allowed a run in the first inning tonight but slammed the door after that, allowing the aforementioned single run on three hits over seven innings, walking none and striking out five. He also hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead.

The game was tied at 1 headed into the sixth inning but the Brewers blew it open from there, scoring five runs on four home runs over a span of three innings. Ryan Braun, Greinke and Carlos Gomez all hit solo shots and Aramis Ramirez hit a two run bomb to chase Cliff Lee from the game.

With a 6-1 lead heading into the eighth Ron Roenicke decided to lift Greinke despite the fact that he had thrown just 87 pitches. The move blew up in his face as the Brewer bullpen melted down again: Jose Veras, Manny Parra and Kameron Loe combined to allow six runs in the inning and the Phillies took the lead.

The Brewers have now lost five straight games for the first time this season.

This series wraps up tomorrow when Marco Estrada faces Vance Worley at 12:05.