Garza pitches a gem, but Brewers lose on walk-off walk
LOS ANGELES -- The Milwaukee Brewers dragged at least one positive out of Los Angeles.
Matt Garza pitched six shutout innings in his second start after missing more than two months on the disabled list, but the bullpen walked in the winning run and the Brewers fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Sunday.
Garza missed the start of the season recovering from a back injury. He only threw 70 pitches and held the Dodgers to five hits. He's allowed one run in 10 innings this year.
The Brewers nursed a 1-0 lead through seven innings with Garza and Blaine Boyer holding the Dodgers to five hits only to see things slip away. Kike Hernandez hit a solo homer in the eighth to tie it, then pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal drew a bases-loaded walk from Tyler Thornburg to end the game in the ninth.
"We haven't been scoring much," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "When the bullpen gives up a run, it is really amplified when you're struggling."
Hot-hitting Scooter Gennett got his sixth home run of the season in the first.
Ryan Braun added two hits for the Brewers, a double in the third and a single that fell between three Dodgers in short center field. Braun was thrown out by left fielder Kendrick trying to stretch his second hit into a double.
Hernandez drilled a 2-1 pitch from reliever Will Smith into the left-field bleachers.
Garza's throwing error in the third inning is likely to land on some blooper reels. Garza thought about barehanding a comebacker by Maeda only to have the ball bounce off his shin. He retrieved it at the edge of the mound with plenty of time but inexplicably threw a two-hopper to first baseman Chris Carter six feet wide of the bag.
Counsell is a father of four, and his father, John, was an outfielder in the Twins organization (1964-68).
"The best part for me today already was I met Aaron Hill's father down in the lobby, and talked to Matt Garza's father in the lobby," Counsell said. "They're proud dads today. They're as excited as anybody to come to the park and watch their sons play in a major league baseball game. It brings you closer to home.
"My dad is watching my boys play baseball today, and that's how it should be."
Brewers: LHP Chris Capuano flew to Milwaukee with more discomfort in his left elbow. He's expected to be examined by Dr. William Rasch on Tuesday. C Jonathan Lucroy got a routine day off after seven consecutive starts.
Brewers: They begin a two-game series at Oakland on Tuesday night, the eighth game in a nine-game, 10-day road trip. RHP Jimmy Nelson (5-6, 3.92) makes his first start against the A's. Nelson is 0-3 with 9.69 ERA over his last three starts, raising his ERA from 2.88 to 3.92.
