Brewers pitchers hit hard in 8-4 loss to Rockies

WP: Edgmer Escalona (1-0)
LP: Mike Gonzalez (0-1)
SV: Rafael Betancourt (1)

HR: Ryan Braun (1), Troy Tulowitzki (2), Carlos Gonzalez (2)

MVP: Brandon Kintzler (+.079 WPA)
LVP: Mike Gonzalez (-.244 WPA)

Box Score
Win Expectancy Graph

Well, at least the first loss is out of the way.

It was a matchup of offenses in tonight's game. The Rockies struck first with three consecutive singles in the second inning, giving them a 1-0 lead. The Brewers came back and took the lead in the bottom of the second with doubles from Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Gomez, and a single from Marco Estrada to make it 2-1. The Rockies responded with a solo home run from Troy Tulowitzki in the top of the third, and the Brewers answered again in the bottom of the third with a two run shot from Ryan Braun to make it 4-2. The Rockies would come back again with a two-run home run from Carlos Gonzalez to tie the game at four.

It wasn't Marco Estrada's day today. He pitched five innings, allowing four runs on nine hits, which included a pair of home runs. On the positive side, he did strike out eight and walked no one, throwing 60 of his 89 pitches for strikes. The control was there tonight, but the Rockies were locked on to him. He did keep the Brewers in the game, though, as he left with the score tied.

However, unlike yesterday, the bullpen just couldn't hold it down. Brandon Kintzler did start with an impressive inning, striking out the side in his inning of work, which included three-pitch strikeouts to Yorvit Torrealba and Edger Escalona. Mike Gonzalez started the seventh inning, and couldn't record an out. He loaded the bases with a walk, a bunt single, and an infield hit to first base (where the bat broke and almost took out Alex Gonzalez). Ron Roencike made the quick switch to Burke Badenhop, but it was too late as a sac fly, another infield single, and a soft single to center made it a 7-4 lead for Colorado. Tom Gorzelanny would allow another run in the eighth to make it 8-4, and Chris Narveson kept it there with a scoreless ninth.

On the other side, the Rockies only got 4 1/3 innings from Jorge De La Rosa, who allowed four runs on five hits and three walks. The difference in the story tonight was the Rockies bullpen, who kept the Brewers off the board for the rest of the game with scoreless appearances from Edgmer Escalona, Matt Belisle, Wilton Lopez, Rex Brothers, and Rafael Betancourt.

The Brewers tried to rally in the ninth, putting runners at the corners with singles from Jean Segura and Norichika Aoki. However, Rickie Weeks grounded out to end the game and give the Brewers their first loss.

The rubber match of the series will be tomorrow night at 7:10 pm. Wily Peralta will make his first start of the season for the Brewers, and Juan Nicasio makes the start for the Rockies.