The Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen spoils Brett Phillips’ debut

WP: Jeff Samardzija
LP: Rob Scahill

HR: Eduardo Nuñez (4)

Box Score

There’s a lesson to be learned in this game: The bullpen is useless. Ok, maybe there are a few reliable members of the pen, but it certainly wasn’t either of the two pitchers who gave up a 7-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants tonight.

The bullpen isn’t completely to blame, the offense was also completely anemic. The Brewers were able to get a couple of runs right out of the gate. Eric Sogard doubled, Domingo Santana singled and both players were drove in by a Hernan Perez sac fly. After the first inning, 19 consecutive Brewers batters were retired by Jeff Samardzija (of all people). The offense would get an opportunity in the seventh inning, but fail to push any runs across when Nick Franklin struck out with runners on the corners.

Meanwhile, Junior Guerra was not his usual self. The starter only gave up two earned runs but struggled to make it through five innings. Guerra worked deep into counts, giving up seven hits and two walks. The Brewers’ Opening Day starter was able to keep the Giants to a two run tie despite that predicament, but then the Crew was forced to turn it over to the pen.

Jared Hughes actually takes no blame. He struck out the side in his lone inning. Rob Scahill started to give way in the 8th. With two outs and the bases fully loaded, Scahill gave up a two-run double to Aaron Hill (yes, he still plays baseball). Thankfully, the Brewers were able to get the final out at the plate, limiting the damage to 4-2.

Now, there’s one player you don’t want in to hold the opposing team to a two-run lead, and that player is Neftali Feliz. Feliz came in, promptly loaded the bases (one batter reached on an error) and proceeded to give up three runs in the 9th. That would be too much for the Brewers offense to overcome.

The positive story of the night for the Brew Crew was Brett Phillips. In Phillips MLB debut he showed off his miraculous arm, nailing Denard Span on an attempted double. Then Phillips would bring home a souvenir in the form of his first hit, a single in the 8th inning. Because Milwaukee can’t have nice things, Jesus Aguilar would promptly ground into a double play.

The Brewers take on the Giants in game two of the series tomorrow at Miller Park. Milwaukee sends Chase Anderson (4-1, 3.30 ERA) against the Giants’ Matt Cain (3-4, 4.53 ERA). First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.