Brewer bullpen melts down, Phillies Top Milwaukee 5-2

WP: Jeremy Hellickson (6-5); LP: Rob Scahill (1-3); Save: Hector Neris (8); Home runs: Phil - Nick Williams (2); Mil -Brett Phillips (1)

Box Score

Brett Phillips’ first big moment as a Brewer didn’t last long. Craig Counsell called on the rookie to pinch hit with the Brewers down 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth after a two out hit by Orlando Arcia brought up starting pitcher Matt Garza. Phillips responded with a two run homer off of the second deck facing in right to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead, his first homer gauntlet, and his first curtain call.

Unfortunately, Rob Scahill’s first appearance in over a week went poorly. He gave up three successive singles to load the bases. Milwaukee opted for newly acquired Tyler Webb to face lefty Nick Williams, and his first pitch was a hanging curve ball that Williams drove over the center field wall for a grand slam and a 5-2 lead. Webb gave up two more consecutive singles before settling down for three straight outs, two on strikeouts, to end the inning.

Garza worked five innings, allowing three hits and the one run. He walked two and struck out none. Phillies’ starter Jeremy Hellickson also went five, allowing four hits and the two runs. He had a free pass and struck out six. Philadelphia’s rally made a winner out of Hellickson, who moves to 6-5 on the season.

A one out first inning double from Domingo Santana was the only Brewers’ hit until the two out rally in the fifth, and he was caught off of second on Ryan Braun’s come-backer to for a fielder’s choice. Braun drew a one out walk for the only other runner in the fourth before the rally in the fifth.

The Brewers’ threatened to get back in the game came in the bottom of the eighth when Santana walked with two down, and Braun singled him to third. Braun advanced on a wild pitch with Santana holding at third, but Travis Shaw (getting the green light on a 3-0 pitch) flew out to left to end the frame.

Phillies closer Hector Neris gave up back to back hits to start the ninth (Hernan Perez, Manny Pina), but shut down Stephen Vogt, Arcia, and Eric Thames to end the ball game and earn his eighth save.

Carlos Torres tossed two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk, and Oliver Drake worked the ninth perfectly, with one strikeout.

The Cubs won today while the Cards fell to the Pirates, so Milwaukee leads Chicago by 4.5 and St. Louis by 6.5. The Brewers travel to Pittsburgh for four games, Monday through Thursday, and the opener tomorrow night has lefty Brent Suter (1-1, 2.96) making his third start in place of the DL’d Chase Anderson. FSWisconsin has Chad Kuhl going for the Pirates (44-48, seven back of the 52-42 Brewers). Kuhl is 3-6 with a 4.96 ERA. CBS shows Jameson Taillon starting (5-2, 2.73).