Greinke Loses First Game At Miller Park, Dodgers Fall Flat Once Again

Last night’s complete game Clayton Kershaw win was a welcome refreshing reprieve from the usual loss factory. Birdman Zack Greinke came into tonight having never lost at Miller Park in his career. He was something like 16-0 all time in that park. Of course as soon as he puts on a Dodger uniform he’s destined to lose. I’m beginning to think the Dodgers have super losing powers. They’ve only won one game on this entire road-trip, and lost again 5-2, as the Brewers evened the series.

It was back to the same old poor fundamentals show for the Dodgers. Starring lousy offense, poor base running, no hitting with runners in scoring position, bad relief pitching, and shoddy defense. Personally I am sick of this show and would like to change the channel for once.

Greinke looked poor tonight as he lasted just four innings, allowing five runs and nine hits, while walking three. Greinke was behind in counts, and the Milwaukee hitters ran up his pitch count, by fouling off a lot of pitches. Greinke had way too many three ball counts which helped lead to Greinke’s first loss at Miller Park for the first time in his life.

The losery has now spread to Birdman-Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Brewers starter youngster Hiram Burgos wasn’t very good either. He was lifted after only 3.1 frames. He allowed two runs on six hits, with four walks, and three whiffs.

The Dodgers again left a small army of runners on base. The Dodgers left 13 men on base, and were 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers were behind early, as Greinke allowed a two-out walk to Ryan Braun. And consecutive singles to Aramis Ramirez, and Jonathan Lucroy to put the Brew Crew ahead 1-0.

The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the fourth, but otherwise stranded runners in every inning. The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the second frame, after a single to Matt Kemp, and a walk to Andre Ethier. A.J Ellis flied out, Skip Schumaker looped out, and Dee Gordon grounded out. The Dodgers left the bases loaded again in the top of the third. Greinke and Crawford both singled, and after Nick Punto’s sacrifice moved the runners over, the Brewers pitch around Gonzalez to load the bases. However Burgos whiffs both Kemp, and Ethier and the Dodgers don’t score again.

Gomez’s two-run ground-rule double was the deciding blow-Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers did finally score in the top of the fourth, but they still blew a whole slew of scoring opportunities. In the fourth inning, Schumaker singled, and Gordon walked to put two runners on. Greinke’s RBI single to left scored Schumaker to tie the game at 1-1. Crawford walked to load the bases, and Punto’s single up the middle plated the second run to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. They could have had more, but of course, Gonzo whiffed, and Kemp grounded into a force. The Dodgers screwed themselves in the fifth inning as well. After singles from Schumaker and Ethier, Gordon’s ill-advised squeeze bunt was botched, and Ethier was thrown out at the plate. The Dodgers couldnt score yet again.

The Dodgers then typically in fine 2013 fashion, melted down to allow the Brewers to score four times in the bottom of the fifth. Once that happened, that was it. With Greinke still on the mound, the Brewers used four consecutive hits to score the four runs. Jean Segura tripled over Andre Ethier’s head to lead-off the inning. Braun singles to score Segura and tie the game at 2-2. Ramirez a bloop single into center, and Lucroy singles as well. Carlos Gomez’s ground-rule double scores Ramirez, and Lucroy to put the Brewers up 4-2.  The Dodgers hooked Greinke, and brought in Matt Guerrier, who allowed one additional run to score on a Betancourt RBI grounder, and the Dodgers end the inning down 5-2.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy tags out Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier trying to score on a squeeze bunt in the 5th inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers and Nick Punto are down and out yet again-Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

That’s how the score would stay. Because when the Dodgers get knocked down, they do not get back up. The Milwaukee bullpen pitched 5.2 innings of shutout ball, allowing just three hits to the Dodgers. The Dodgers only had three hits after the fourth inning. It was pathetic. The Dodgers had ten hits, but could only score twice. The pitching staff gave up five runs on 12 hits.

That’s all she wrote guys. Mike Fiers picked up the win, and Jim Henderson picked up his ninth save for the Brewers. The Dodgers fall to 18-26, and a loss tomorrow would give them five of six losses on this road-trip.

Could tomorrow be Don Mattingly’s final game as Dodger manager? I doubt it, but you never know. Remember, according to Ken Rosenthal’s article, Mattingly could get canned by Thursday. The Dodgers will give the ball to Hyun-jin Ryu, as the Brewers will counter with Wily Peralta in tomorrow morning’s rubber game at an early 10AM start time. Get up to catch some folgers in your cup, and watch some early morning Dodger Baseball on the tube. Sure they suck, but they are still our Bums. Catch the fever! Go Blue.