One week into the 2013 Major League Baseball season and the Milwaukee Brewers
are probably thinking about how grateful they are that the season is 162 games long. Because six games into the current campaign and the Brewers are just 1-5, riding a 5-game losing streak.
The fifth loss in that stretch came yesterday as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Brewers 8-7 in 11-innings. Menasha, Wis. native Eric Hinske clubbed his 8th career pinch-hit home run off of John Axford in the 11th to win it.
The Brewers scored twice in the bottom of the 9th to force extra innings. Axford came on to work a perfect 10th inning, then served up a double, followed by Hinske’s home run to get saddled with the loss.
The losses aren’t the only think that’s piling up early, so are the injuries.
Jean Segura is the latest to suffer an injury. He suffered a left-quadriceps contusion in the 3rd inning when he took a throw from 1st baseman Yuniesky Betancourt. Gerardo Parra’s attempt to break up a double play meant a late, hard slide that sent Segura to the turf. He is listed as day-to-day.
The Brewers already have Aramis Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list and Ryan Braun is missing time with neck spasms.
AUDIO: Ron Roenicke said this many injuries is tough to overcome :10
AUDIO: Ron Roenicke because the injuries are minor, it’s tough on him :14
Josh Prince started the 9th inning rally for the Brewers, leading off with a ground rule double to center off of Arizona closer J.J. Putz. Norichika Aoki followed with a single to right to cut the deficit to 1. After a Carlos Gomez ground out, Jonathan Lucroy singled to right to bring Aoki home and the game was tied 6-6 with extra innings ahead.
Manager Ron Roenicke admitted that he didn’t want to have to send John Axford back out to the mound in the 11th inning after he retired the Diamondbacks in 10th. But the Brewers were running out of pitchers and Roenicke was trying to stretch another inning out of Axford.
AUDIO: Roenicke explains sending Axford out for the 11th :14
Axford has now given up four home runs in three games and his ERA has climbed to 20.25. That’s just one fewer home run (4) then the entire Brewers team has hit (5) in the first six games of the season.
Roenicke admitted after the game that he’s concerned about Axford, but also said he’ll remain the Brewers closer.
The Brewers hit the road for the first time this season. They’re in Chicago to open a three game series against the Cubs.