Lackluster Brewers fall 3-0 to Reds

WP: Blake Wood (6-3) (vulture win); LP: Wily Peralta (6-10); Save: Raisel Iglasias (3); Homeruns: none. Really. At Great American Ball Park

The Brewers must have had a fun plane ride from St. Louis to Cincinnati, because they didn’t look ready to play tonight. The first inning was defined by defensive plays, and the Reds made ‘em and the Brewers didn’t. The result was a 3-0 Reds lead, and that was the final score.

Wily Peralta deserved better, and if Orlando Arcia had started at short tonight the game might still be going. The Reds took advantage of the rookie’s day off, as Jonathan Villar couldn’t make a play on two ground balls that would have ended the inning. Neither was easy, but neither was particularly difficult, either. Both were ruled hits, and all three runs were earned.

The Brewers’ intrepid TV crew complimented Hernan Perez on how he has played well defensively wherever Craig Counsell has played him, and how his hitting hasn’t been hurt by the moves. Then they talked about how Villar seemed hesitant playing short after having played so much at third (badly) lately. Really? I could have sworn that Villar had played a little short this year.

Willy gave up four straight soft singles in the first, then retired fifteen straight before allowing two more hits with two down in the sixth. He retired his final hitter on a ground out, and watched as the offense squandered another scoring chance, ably abetted by Windmill Eddie Sedar. With runners at first and second and two down, Scooter Gennett grounded a single into right. Right fielder Scott Schebeler, playing shallow, charged the ball and picked it up about 40 feed from the infield. Villar was still two steps short of third, and Ryan Braun was coming up. This was egregious even by Sedar Standards - Villar was out from Cincinnati to Cleveland.

The Brewers had other chances. Hernan Perez made the third out twice with the bases loaded, both on flyballs. Milwaukee, baseball’s leader in striking out, fanned eleven times. Keon Broxton stole second only to come off the bag and get tagged out.

Interesting play in the top of the third: Martin Maldomado took a fastball from Reds’ starter Keyvius Sampson on the forearm leading off, and Peralta failed twice bunting to move him up. Peralta then pulled the bat back after showing bunt and hit a soft liner right at Brandon Phillips at second. Phillips dropped it (obviously intentionally) and tossed for the force at second and the throw to first was in plenty of time to get Wily. The second base umpire ruled that Peralta was out on the liner and Maldy remained at first. Phillips thought it was great fun.

Brent Suter picked off Joey Votto in the bottom of the eighth when Joey had a two step lead, and it wasn’t close. I don’t know what the announced attendance was, but my estimate is about 87.

Tomorrow night the Brewers (64-80) send Matt Garza (5-6, 4.36) out to face Dan Straily (11-8, 3.88) for the Reds (61-82). Straily hasn’t allowed an earned run all year. What’s up with that? The Reds infield has made a gazillion errors this year. Must be a flyball pitcher.

(Way To Go: Khrush hit homer #36 tonight.)

(Kyle Hendricks took a no-hitter into the ninth against the Cards tonight, but gave up a homer to Jeremy Hazelbaker leading off the inning. Aroldis Chapman got the final three outs for a 4-1 Cubs win, and their magic number is down to 3.)