Chad Patrick struggles in Brewers’ 5-2 loss to Tigers
Box Score
After an offensive outburst in Tuesday’s game, it was tough to get through Wednesday night. The opening strategy didn’t pay off this time around for the Brewers, as Chad Patrick struggled and the Brewers offense couldn’t break through the Tigers’ pitches.
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The game started quietly for the Brewers offense, losing in order to Casey Mize in the first inning. Meanwhile, opener DL Hall encountered some problems. He walked the first two batters he faced, but got Jahmai Jones to ground into a double play for the first two outs. Hall escaped the inning thanks to a strikeout of Riley Greene.
Mize continued to drive through the second, but allowed a single to Brandon Lockridge. That’s all as he struck out two Brewers en route to a scoreless second inning. Hall’s second inning went better, this time retiring the side in order while the game remained scoreless.
In the third, the Brewers scored first with a two-out attack. After Brice Turang drew a two-out walk – extending his on-base streak to 21 games – he stole second to move into scoring position. On the next pitch, William Contreras singled to center and Turang scored, giving the Brewers a 1-0 lead.
This gave Patrick a one point lead as he entered the match. His day started well with a scoreless third, around a Jake Rogers walk. Meanwhile, Mize bounced back in the fourth with a 1-2-3.
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Patrick started to weaken late in the fourth. Greene hit a one-out single to center, which set up Spencer Torkelson. He hit a sinker that was over the middle of left-center field, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead. He continued to unravel in a tough 37-pitch fifth inning. After Javier Báez had a leadoff single, a 10-pitch pitch went to McGonigle, who doubled to drive in Báez. Colt Keith then brought in McGonigle with an RBI single, increasing the Tigers’ lead to 4-1.
As for Mize, the Brewers didn’t have another chance to score against him. He finished the day after six innings with one run allowed on three hits. He struck out seven Brewers and walked three. Meanwhile, Patrick managed the sixth but it was his worst day so far this year. He allowed four runs on six hits and one walk in four innings. He only struck out two.
The Brewers got a second run in the eighth, conceding a leadoff single from Luis Rengifo. After advancing on a Contreras groundout, Jake Bauers drove him in with a single to make it a 4-2 game. However, the Tigers responded with a Kerry Carpenter solo home run off Carlos Rodriguez, bringing it back to a three-run lead. It was the only run Rodriguez allowed in two innings of relief.
With one more chance in the ninth, the Brewers made the game interesting against Tigers closer Kenley Jansen. Lockridge hit a one-out bloop single to right to the first baserunner. After Sal Frelick threw nine pitches at bat in a fly out, David Hamilton and Rengifo worked consecutive walks to load the bases and bring Jansen’s pitch count up to 33. Turang had a chance to tie or take the lead, but a ground out to Torkelson initially ended the game.
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The Tigers kept the Brewers’ offense in check, limiting them to six hits and five walks. Lockridge was the only Brewer with multiple hits, going 2 for 4. Turang also reached base twice with two walks, and Rengifo had a hit and a walk.
This sets up the rubber match for tomorrow afternoon, and the Brewers will have a challenge ahead of them. They’ll have to go through Tigers starter and two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal to secure the series victory. Meanwhile, Brandon Sproat will get the call for the Brewers. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:10 p.m.
