May 02 2009
Brewers’ bullpen struggles against Snakes
MILWAUKEE (AP)—Tony Clark’s
drive to left nicked the foul line. That’s all the Diamondbacks needed for a comeback win.
Clark’s two-run, pinch-hit double highlighted a four-run eighth inning, and Arizona rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
Reliever Carlos Villanueva (1-3) was trying to protect a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth.
He retired the first two batters, but Conor Jackson walked and took third on Mark Reynolds’ single. Todd Coffey came on to face Justin Upton, who hit a slow roller in the grass down the third-base line letting Jackson score. Clark followed with his hit that replays appeared to show just catching the outside edge of the left-field line. Chris Snyder singled in Clark to make it 5-2.
“I haven’t seen the replay yet,” Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said of Clark’s hit. “From what I heard, it hit the far side of the chalk. It’s not my call.”
The Brewers felt just the opposite.
“Clark’s ball was called fair regardless of what I saw or what anybody else saw,” said Coffey who allowed an inherited runner to score for the first time this season.
Brewers manager Ken Macha ran from the dugout to question third base umpire Brian Gorman and was told the ball hit the line.
“I haven’t seen the replay,” Macha said. “I just know by the reaction of Jason Kendall and Bill Hall who were jumping up and down.”
Melvin was happy to see the Diamondbacks take advantage of some opportunities as the Brewers’ bullpen failed to hold a lead. Milwaukee rallied for four runs in the seventh to beat Arizona on Thursday.
“The Justin hit was a big one for us, too,” Melvin said. “We haven’t been getting too many breaks. He hits a little nubber out front of third and beats it out. Tony puts a good swing on the next ball. We’ll take it.”
Clark added: “You can’t script a full swing dribbler down the third-base line for a hit to tie the ballgame,” Clark said. “That was a big at-bat.”
Macha said Jackson’s at-bat was key.
“It all started with a two-out walk,” he said. “Walks will kill you.”
Tony Pena (3-0) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the victory. Chad Qualls worked the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.
Diamondbacks starter Jon Garland held the Brewers scoreless through six innings, striking out Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Mike Cameron with runners at first and second in the sixth. But the Brewers broke through in the seventh when Kendall’s groundout scored Craig Counsell, who led off with a double and took third on a single by Hall.
“I’m glad that he didn’t get stuck with that loss, that we came back,” Melvin said. “He’s pitched in that fashion for us all year. Most of the games that he’s in, he’s in there late in the game and they’re close games. We haven’t given him much run support.”
Pena relieved Garland. Pinch-hitter Chris Duffy singled to left to score Hall as Milwaukee grabbed a 2-1 lead.
Milwaukee starter Manny Parra, a left-hander, dominated the eight right-handed batters in the Diamondbacks’ lineup, except for switch-hitting Felipe Lopez.
Lopez, who finished with three hits, singled and went to third on Eric Byrnes’ double. Parra struck out Jackson, but then walked the next two batters to force in Lopez as Arizona went ahead 1-0. Chris Young flied out to end the inning. ^Notes: Melvin kept SS Augie Ojeda on the bench for the second consecutive game due to a groin strain. Jack Wilson started again for Ojeda. Wilson was selected from Triple-A Reno on April 26 to replace Stephen Drew (left hamstring) who went on the 15-day disabled list. … Macha decided that SS J.J. Hardy, who is batting .156 and in a 1-for-20 slump, needed a couple of days off to regroup. Craig Counsell took his place in the lineup. … Parra failed in his fifth attempt to win his first game of the season.
…..
It’s incredibly frustrating to see Villanueva struggle like this. I’m still waiting for him to be put in more low leverage situations with the game not on the line.This was also one of Coffey’s rare implosions since he’s been with the Brewers, and I wouldn’t look too much into it unless he puts together several bad outings.The Brewers’ offense has been suspect lately. You don’t expect the team to light up guys like Ian Snell and Max Scherzer, two very good young arms, but Jon Garland is just an innings eater with average offerings.
The pitching matchup doesn’t get any easier for the Brewers tonight as Dan Haren (2-3, 1.54) will throw against Braden Looper (2-0, 2.45).
Haren has been the victim of terrible run support this season, but he has the stuff to completely shut down the Brewers tonight.
Looper has been everything the Brewers could’ve asked for so far, and he’ll look to win his third game of the year. The key for him is not walking anyone. He walked 4 last time out against the Pirates, but got away with it by striking out 7 and working out of several jams.
Game time tonight is 6:05p.m. at Miller Park.
