Brewers late rally not enough to overcome 12-run deficit, fall to Braves 12-8

WP: Max Fried (6-2)
LP: Jhoulys Chacin (3-5)
SV: Luke Jackson (6)

HR: Jacob Nottingham (1), Freddie Freeman (9), Dansby Swanson (7), Josh Donaldson (7), Tyler Flowers (4)

Box Score

While the final score makes this one look close, the Brewers fell behind big and a late rally make it a more respectable score.

Jhoulys Chacin got the start and have a rough day. The Braves got a run in the first on a Ronald Acuna double and a Freddie Freeman groundout. They added a second in the second inning after three singles and a sacrifice fly by Ozzie Albies. Freddie Freeman led off the third with a home run to make it a 3-0 Braves lead. Chacin did make it through five innings, but allowed eight hits and a walk, and only struck out three.

The game was still in reach as Chacin left the game, but Corbin Burnes followed and it got out of reach quick. in ²⁄₃ of an inning, he allowed three home runs, which accounted for six of the seven total runs he allowed in the game. Both of his outs came by strikeout, but that’s probably the only positive thing you could say about this one. Jacob Barnes took the last ¹⁄₃ of the inning, and ended up allowing two more runs, boosting the Braves lead to 12-0.

The Brewers did start tacking on some runs in the seventh. Three two-out singles put the Brewers on the board in the seventh at 12-1. In the eighth, a single from Lorenzo Cain, double from Mike Moustakas, and groundout by Ryan Braun made it a 12-2 game. Jacob Nottingham added another two runs with his first home run of the season, closing it to a 12-4 Braves lead.

In the ninth, the Brewers started with strikeouts by Keston Hiura and Orlando Arcia to put the game an out from being over. However, the Brewers put together a rally. Ben Gamel walked, and Lorenzo Cain reached on an error by Dansby Swanson. Mike Moustakas walked to load the bases, and Ryan Braun singled to make it a 12-6 game. After Jesus Aguilar walked to re-load the bases, Jacob Nottingham brought in two more runs with a single, putting the Brewers in striking distance at 12-8. That’s where it would end though, as Hernan Perez struck out to end the game.

Keston Hiura, Orlando Arcia, and Jacob Nottingham (who came in off the bench) each had two hits in the game. Nottingham also had four RBI, and Braun had three in the game. On most nights, the offense would have been good for a win, but by the time it came around tonight, the Brewers were too far behind for it to help.

One positive for tomorrow is that the Brewers didn’t use much of their bullpen. Chacin took five innings, while Burnes and Barnes combined for two. The only pitcher that did not allow a run tonight for the Brewers was Hernan Perez, who got to pitch an inning with the Brewers down by nine.

It’s right back to work tomorrow as the Brewers will look to rebound from this one. Chase Anderson will return from the IL, though the roster move for him is still to be announced. Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman will pitch for the Braves. First pitch is at 6:15 pm and it will be a national broadcast on FOX.