Post by Fish Troll on May 26, 2007 10:19:12 GMT -5
Comeback bid falls short in opener
Fielder, Hardy both go deep; Braun makes solid debut
By Shaun O'Neill / Special to MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- The Milwaukee Brewers got a glimpse of their future in Ryan Braun on Friday night, and Tony Gwynn Jr. was reminded of his past. But it is the present problems of pitcher Dave Bush that are of the most concern to the team.
Braun doubled and collected two RBis in his Major League debut, and Gwynn played a big-league ballgame in his hometown for the first time. Their notable nights went for naught, however, as the Padres built a big early lead and held on for an 8-6 victory at PETCO Park.
Bush (3-5) was roughed up for seven runs, nine hits and three walks in only five innings as the Padres built a 7-0 lead. The Brewers' belated comeback made Bush's problems all the more painful.
"I'm mostly unable to keep the ball down," said Bush, whose ERA stands at 6.13. "I don't know what it is. It's something, but I'm not sure where."
With his mechanics awry, and his fastball finding spots to the hitters' liking, Bush was unable to record a single 1-2-3 inning.
Things went from bad to worse in the fifth inning, when the Padres scored five runs to push their lead to seven runs. Kevin Kouzmanoff's grand slam was the big blow.
Bush led Milwaukee with 12 wins in 2006, but he has only three quality starts in 10 outings this year. Brewers manager Ned Yost said Bush has been far from alone in struggling with his command during the team's recent slide. Since opening with a 24-10 record, Milwaukee has lost 10 of 14, including the past three.
"We're not able to put the fastball down and away as consistently as I'd like," Yost said, hoarse from an argument with plate umpire Jerry Layne that got him ejected in the seventh inning. "That comes and goes, just like offense. That's the difference between being hot and not so hot."
The Brewers' batters got hot late to make a game of it, and Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy continued their horse race atop the National League home run charts. Fielder hit his 15th homer of the season in the fifth inning, and Hardy matched him with No. 15 in the seventh.
Braun was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. The 23-year-old third baseman flied out and grounded out in his first two at-bats, then got the comeback started with a sacrifice fly to center field in the sixth inning to bring home Rickie Weeks with Milwaukee's first run.
He notched his second RBI an inning later with a double to left-center and grounded out to shortstop in his final at-bat.
"He's a big-leaguer," Yost said with approval.
Said Braun: "The first couple at-bats, I was anxious, excited. But I felt good in the field, felt good offensively. It's nice to get that first big-league game under your belt."
The Brewers chased Greg Maddux (4-3) out of the game by scoring three runs and collecting five hits in the sixth inning, including Fielder's solo home run with two outs. Three more runs in the seventh, including Hardy's two-run homer off Doug Brocail, made the score 8-6.
Braun's RBI double in the seventh brought home Gwynn, who led off with a walk after entering the game as part of a double-switch the previous inning. Gwynn was greeted with applause from the San Diego fans when his familiar name was announced. His father, Tony Gwynn Sr., spent his entire 20-year playing career with the Padres and will enter the Hall of Fame in July.
Milwaukee left fielder Geoff Jenkins and Yost were ejected from the game by Layne in the top of the seventh for arguing a called third strike.
Shaun O'Neill is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Fielder, Hardy both go deep; Braun makes solid debut
By Shaun O'Neill / Special to MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- The Milwaukee Brewers got a glimpse of their future in Ryan Braun on Friday night, and Tony Gwynn Jr. was reminded of his past. But it is the present problems of pitcher Dave Bush that are of the most concern to the team.
Braun doubled and collected two RBis in his Major League debut, and Gwynn played a big-league ballgame in his hometown for the first time. Their notable nights went for naught, however, as the Padres built a big early lead and held on for an 8-6 victory at PETCO Park.
Bush (3-5) was roughed up for seven runs, nine hits and three walks in only five innings as the Padres built a 7-0 lead. The Brewers' belated comeback made Bush's problems all the more painful.
"I'm mostly unable to keep the ball down," said Bush, whose ERA stands at 6.13. "I don't know what it is. It's something, but I'm not sure where."
With his mechanics awry, and his fastball finding spots to the hitters' liking, Bush was unable to record a single 1-2-3 inning.
Things went from bad to worse in the fifth inning, when the Padres scored five runs to push their lead to seven runs. Kevin Kouzmanoff's grand slam was the big blow.
Bush led Milwaukee with 12 wins in 2006, but he has only three quality starts in 10 outings this year. Brewers manager Ned Yost said Bush has been far from alone in struggling with his command during the team's recent slide. Since opening with a 24-10 record, Milwaukee has lost 10 of 14, including the past three.
"We're not able to put the fastball down and away as consistently as I'd like," Yost said, hoarse from an argument with plate umpire Jerry Layne that got him ejected in the seventh inning. "That comes and goes, just like offense. That's the difference between being hot and not so hot."
The Brewers' batters got hot late to make a game of it, and Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy continued their horse race atop the National League home run charts. Fielder hit his 15th homer of the season in the fifth inning, and Hardy matched him with No. 15 in the seventh.
Braun was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. The 23-year-old third baseman flied out and grounded out in his first two at-bats, then got the comeback started with a sacrifice fly to center field in the sixth inning to bring home Rickie Weeks with Milwaukee's first run.
He notched his second RBI an inning later with a double to left-center and grounded out to shortstop in his final at-bat.
"He's a big-leaguer," Yost said with approval.
Said Braun: "The first couple at-bats, I was anxious, excited. But I felt good in the field, felt good offensively. It's nice to get that first big-league game under your belt."
The Brewers chased Greg Maddux (4-3) out of the game by scoring three runs and collecting five hits in the sixth inning, including Fielder's solo home run with two outs. Three more runs in the seventh, including Hardy's two-run homer off Doug Brocail, made the score 8-6.
Braun's RBI double in the seventh brought home Gwynn, who led off with a walk after entering the game as part of a double-switch the previous inning. Gwynn was greeted with applause from the San Diego fans when his familiar name was announced. His father, Tony Gwynn Sr., spent his entire 20-year playing career with the Padres and will enter the Hall of Fame in July.
Milwaukee left fielder Geoff Jenkins and Yost were ejected from the game by Layne in the top of the seventh for arguing a called third strike.
Shaun O'Neill is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070525&content_id=1985326&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil
