MILWAUKEE -- In his 12 big-league innings this season prior to Saturday night, Cincinnati Reds left-hander David Holmberg had allowed 11 earned runs on 17 hits with 12 walks.
But it seems as if any pitcher facing the Milwaukee Brewers for the first time these days is usually in line for a good outing.
Holmberg allowed just a solo home run to Aramis Ramirez over six innings of work, as the Brewers mustered just two hits in a 5-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in front of a sellout crowd of 45,205 at Miller Park.
Instead of building on a three-game winning streak and gaining a game on Pittsburgh in the chase for the second wild-card spot, Milwaukee put together a feeble offensive performance against a pitcher who has fooled nobody in the big leagues.
"I can't explain it," a flummoxed Ramirez said. "He threw the ball well. What can I say?
"I don't know. Especially with the left-hander on the mound, we have a lot of righties. You would think we would do better than we did tonight. But it didn't happen."
The Brewers appeared ready to jump on Holmberg in the first inning, as the 23-year-old hit Carlos Gomez and walked Ryan Braun on four pitches to begin his outing.
But Milwaukee managed to hit into a double play in which the two lead runners were erased, as Reds shortstop Zach Cozart fielded a Jonathan Lucroy grounder and first got the out at second. Second baseman Brandon Phillips realized Gomez didn't run to third, and the Brewers center fielder was tagged out after a rundown.
"When you have a chance early, that's usually when you can get to a starter," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "We had a real good opportunity early and we messed that up. Then he got confident and his changeup was good. It's a legit changeup."
Holmberg allowed just three baserunners the rest of the way. An infield single by Hector Gomez in the second and Ramirez's solo home run in the fourth were the only hits by the Brewers.
After the first inning, the Brewers advanced just one runner to second base, and that was on the home run.
Milwaukee has averaged just 2.8 runs per game in September. The Brewers' 36 runs in the month leave them tied with the Cubs and Diamondbacks for the third-fewest in the National League.
The Brewers haven't had one of those breakout offensive performances since the series opener in San Diego on Aug. 25.
"It's been a long time," Roenicke said. "We know we need to swing it better. It's hard to say what it is that's going to take us to bust out and swing the bat well. I know we're facing tough pitching so I'm not expecting big numbers every night but I expect guys to swing the bat.
"I write out the lineup, I look at the lineup, the guys out on the field, and I think they can all hit. I expect us to go out there and score some runs."
The game easily could have gotten away from starter Yovani Gallardo and the Brewers in the fourth inning. Consecutive singles by Brayan Pena and Todd Frazier followed by a walk to Devin Mesoraco loaded the bases with nobody out.
Gallardo, who was sharp in the early going, suddenly lost his command. He walked Brandon Phillips to force in a run and fell behind Jay Bruce. The Brewers caught a break when Mesoraco was caught between second and third after a sacrifice fly from Bruce put the Reds up 2-0.
Instead of the inning getting away from Gallardo, he settled down and left with just a 2-1 deficit after six innings.
"I got a little bit out of whack there in the fourth inning, but I think really the only pitch that was up in the zone was the one to Pena," Gallardo said. "Frazier stuck his bat out there and was able to get a base hit. You know then, was just rushing through my delivery there with those two walks, and you know I was just able to leave it at that."
Over the past two games, the Brewers have managed just four hits in 12 innings against Reds rookie pitchers Daniel Corcino and Holmberg.
Brewers hitting coach Johnny Narron was frustrated enough Saturday to get tossed by home-plate umpire Dale Scott for arguing balls and strikes after Hector Gomez was rung up to end the seventh.
The pitching from here on out is going to pick up significantly, especially on the upcoming road trip to St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. If the Brewers are going to catch the Pirates for a postseason spot, the bats are going to have to get going.
"We've been struggling in every aspect of the game, until this three-game winning streak we just had," Ramirez said. "We've got what, 12 or 13 left? We have to show up every single day and try to win a ballgame."
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