Offense abandons Zach Davies, Giants shut out Brewers 2-0

WP: Chris Stratton (2-2)
LP: Zach Davies (14-7)
SV: Sam Dyson (11)
HR: lol no

The overall numbers still hide it a bit, but Zach Davies has probably been the Brewers' best-performing starting pitcher in the second half of the season, putting up a 2.91 ERA in 7 starts heading into Monday night and holding opponents to a .636 OPS. He's been even better on the road, with a 2.52 ERA in 12 starts over the course of the entire season away from Miller Park before taking the mound in San Francisco.

Davies continued that second half hot streak in San Francisco, scattering 7 hits over 6 innings but allowing just 2 runs and striking out 5. Unfortunately, another common theme for Davies this year -- overwhelming run support, averaging 6.6 runs per start -- never materialized, and the Brewers were shut out in a 2-0 loss.

Both Davies and Giants starter Chris Stratton got through the first three innings without allowing a run, but the Brewers did have a couple of chances early.

Neil Walker continued the strong start to his tenure in Milwaukee with a first inning single, and Ryan Braun followed by drawing a one-out walk. Nothing came of it, though, after Travis Shaw fouled out and Domingo Santana grounded into a fielder's choice.

The Brewers had another opportunity to score in the third inning, when Davies actually led off the inning with a single. After Eric Thames popped out, Walker hit into what looked like an inning-ending double play, but Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford was charged with an error when he couldn't corral the throw at second base, leaving everyone safe. That second chance would also go for naught, however, after Braun grounded into a fielder's choice and Shaw lined out.

The two missed opportunities might've led to an aggressive gamble the next inning, when Orlando Arcia singled to right field with two outs and Stephen Vogt on first. Vogt went to third on the single, but Arcia found himself in a rundown, trying to delay long enough to get the catcher (who just came off the disabled list with a knee injury) home. Vogt was thrown out at home fairly easily, ending the inning. As annoying as outs at home in a scoreless game are, it's worth noting that Davies was due up after Arcia with two outs, so trying to steal a run on a bad defensive decision might've been worth the risk. It would be the last time the Brewers got a hit in this game.

Unfortunately, Davies faltered slightly in the 4th inning, walking Jarrett Parker to lead off the inning and getting charged with a hit when Orlando Arcia made a great play on a ball hit by Hunter Pence, but Walker dropped the ball at second base. Crawford made Milwaukee pay with an RBI double to give the Giants the first run of the game, and Nick Hundley added on another run with an RBI groundout later in the inning to make the score 2-0.

Stratton left the game after shutting out the Brewers for 6 innings despite just one strikeout and allowing 6 baserunners, running his scoreless streak to 12.2 innings over his last two starts. He was replaced by Matt Cain in the 7th inning, who set the Brewers down in order.

Oliver Drake came on in relief of Davies, who Craig Counsell pinch hit for with 2 outs in the 7th inning. Drake and his reverse splits presumably were put into a 2-0 game to get the lefty-hitting Denard Span out. He gave up a leadoff single instead. Drake was able to get Kelby Tomlinson to strike out on a splitter in the dirt, but the ball got away from Vogy and allowed Span to get to second base. After issuing a two-out walk to Hunter Pence, Drake was able to get Crawford to ground out on the first pitch to end the inning.

Mark Melancon came on in the 8th inning and also retired the Brewers in order, sitting down Walker and Braun with strikeouts. Sam Dyson came in for the 9th and got Shaw to ground out on a ball hit up the middle but fielded by Crawford before walking Santana. Vogt hit a chopper to second base for what was originally called a game-ending double play by CB Bucknor, but the Brewers got a second chance at life when Vogt was called safe after a short review. Jesus Aguilar came on to pinch hit as the Brewers’ last prayer, but struck out swinging to end the game.

The Brewers have now lost 15 of their last 19 games in San Francisco. They get back to it Tuesday night with Jimmy Nelson on the mound.