The Milwaukee Brewers lead in the NL Central is down to 2 games over the St. Louis Cardinals and 2 1/2 games over the Cincinnati Reds after last night’s 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park. The Brewers started the month of July with a 6 1/2 game lead in the division standings.
The Brewers last night managed just three singles in eight innings off of Roberto Hernandez. Hernandez entered the game with a 3-8 record and a 4.48 ERA. Yet the Brewers were making Hernandez look like Cy Young. Jonathan Papelbon came on to close out the 9th inning for the third straight game.
It’s the eighth loss in nine games for the Brewers, who are fading fast in the National League Central. The all-star break can’t come soon enough.
Kyle Lohse worked 8 innings, allowing all four Phillies runs on seven hits. He had eight strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter. He surrendered home runs to Chase Utley (1st inning) and Jimmy Rollins (6th inning).
The Brewers slumping offense has managed to score 1 or 2 runs in five of their last six games. The only time the Brewers scored more was in a
9-7 defeat on Tuesday night against the Phillies.
The Brewers have one more shot at the Phillies this afternoon before a big three-game weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Matt Garza (6-5, 3.78) pitches for the Brewers today. David Buchanon (4-5, 4.82) goes for Philadelphia.
