Brewers struggle in the field in 8-1 loss to Diamondbacks
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell understands errors happen. Baserunning blunders shouldn't.
Archie Bradley pitched seven solid innings, Yasmany Tomas hit two home runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Brewers 8-1 on Wednesday night.
The Brewers looked like they had something going in the first.
Jonathan Villar led off with a double over the head of left fielder Michael Bourn, Scooter Gennett followed with a walk and then Ryan Braun lined out to Tomas in right. Gennett hustled back to the bag trying to beat Tomas' throw, but after a 1:55 review, the safe call was overturned.
With two outs and Jonathan Lucroy up to bat, Villar tried to steal third, but Welington Castillo nailed him with a perfect throw.
Counsell let Villar, who leads the majors with 36 stolen bases, go out for the second inning, but then pulled him when the Diamondbacks came to bat in the third.
"It was due to the baserunning situation," Counsell said. "That's just something he has to improve on. He understands he made a mistake. We'll just move forward from it."
Villar owned up to his mistake and said he apologized to the team before the clubhouse opened up for the media.
"I understand," Villar said. "My bad. I'm playing for the team."
The Brewers' season-high five errors -- three by right fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis and two by shortstop Villar -- contributed to the defeat.
"I think Nieuwy will tell you he had a bad night," Counsell said. "He had a weird night. It wasn't carelessness. The two plays Johnny makes are tough shortstop plays you have to make. It was odd, certainly. But not carelessness."
After Villar's double, Bradley didn't allow another hit until Hernan Perez knocked a soft liner to right with two outs in the fifth. Perez's sacrifice fly in the seventh spoiled the shutout.
After capping a five-run first inning with a three-run shot, Tomas produced his fifth multihomer game this season when he sliced an 0-2 pitch from starter Jimmy Nelson (6-9) over the wall in right for a two-run homer in the fifth that put the game out of reach.
"Every time he takes a swing, it's dangerous," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "He swings with bad intentions. He looks confident. He's getting pitches to hit late in the count and he's using the whole field."
Nelson left two batters after Tomas' shot in his shortest start since going 3 2/3 innings on June 15th against San Francisco.
Nelson matched his career high of eight runs for the third time. He walked two, struck out seven and slipped to 1-6 over his last 10 starts.
Bradley (4-6) allowed one run on four hits, walked three and struck out six in his longest start since going 7 1/3 innings in a 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres on May 29.
Randall Delgado took over for Bradley and pitched two scoreless innings of relief.
STREAK SNAPPED
Ryan Braun had his 11-game hitting streak snapped.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Jacob Barnes was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow soreness. ... RHP Michael Blazek was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (5-9, 4.93 ERA) makes his first career start and appearance against the Brewers. He's struck out five or more in 19 consecutive starts, tied with Miami's Jose Fernandez for the longest streak in the majors this season.
Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (7-4, 3.64) looks for his 10th quality start facing the Diamondbacks for the first time.
