Giants 4, Brewers 2: Another quiet day for the offense results in series loss to Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – With a weekend series looming for the Milwaukee Brewers against the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers, the rubber game of their series against San Francisco took on added importance Wednesday afternoon.

On a day they couldn’t afford another quiet performance by the offense, that’s exactly what happened as the Brewers lost, 4-2, to the Giants at AT&T Park.

Instead of winning a second consecutive series on this three-city trip, the Brewers dropped two of three to the last-place Giants, who held them without a home run until pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt's two-out blast to right in the final inning. Forced to scrap for runs, something they have struggled to do throughout the season, the Brewers scored only six times in the three games.

In losing a road series to the Giants for the seventh consecutive season, the Brewers went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, continuing a year-long trend. The Giants weren't much better at 2 for 14 but such things are only footnotes when you win. 

"We had some at-bats with runners in scoring position," said manager Craig Counsell, whose team is 3-3 on the trip. "We actually had some rallies with no outs. We just couldn’t push anything through.

"We just didn’t do enough today. They pitched well; their bullpen did a nice job. We just couldn’t push that run across."

The Brewers dodged more bad news when X-rays performed after the game on third baseman Travis Shaw's right foot were negative. Shaw fouled a pitch off the foot in the ninth inning and could barely put weight on it afterward but was listed as day-to-day in terms of availability.

The Giants snapped a 1-1 tie in the seventh on Jarrett Parker's two-out, check-swing double off reliever Jacob Barnes — a grounder inside the third-base bag that rolled into San Francisco's bullpen. It was a bit of bad luck for Barnes, who put himself in that position by allowing a pinch-hit double by Denard Span and hitting Gorkys Hernandez with a pitch.

"It was annoying and frustrating," Barnes said. "This game is difficult enough without that happening. He didn't even swing. He couldn't have taken the ball and rolled it into a better spot (to get a hit). 

"You saw the swing. I couldn't believe it. It would be different if you get beat on a full swing. You can't control that outcome."

The loss was even tougher to take for the Brewers because starter Matt Garza pitched out of some major jams, including a bases-loaded, no-out mess in the first, to hold the Giants to one run over five innings. Garza bounced back from recent tough outings to give his team a chance to win, but the offense was limited to six hits by left-hander Matt Moore (4-12, 5.54 coming in) and three relievers.

"I just had to get a nice rhythm going and get back to pitching again," said Garza, who had as 12.46 ERA in his previous three starts. "I took control and was able to make some big pitches in some big spots and keep us close.

"I just got comfortable with my surroundings and was able to make pitches. My job is to get outs. It's nice to be back on track but it sucks that we didn't get the 'W.' We've got a tough team we've got to go play right now, so we'll see if we can take two of three there."

BOX SCORE: Giants 4, Brewers 2

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Other than Shaw's RBI double with two down in the first, the Brewers' best chance to do damage against Moore can in the sixth, when Jonathan Villar and Domingo Santana singled with no outs. With the runners going on good jumps, Ryan Braun flied out to deep center, just missing a home run.

Shaw and Jesús Aguilar grounded out to short, stranding the runners and leaving it a 1-1 game.

"That’s a situation where Johnny’s on his own (to steal)," Counsell said. "We’re not giving a sign or anything like that. Braunie got a pitch to hit and hit it good. They probably had the bases stolen but there’s nothing anybody can do about that."

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

* Rookie lefty Josh Hader had another impressive outing Tuesday night, striking out three hitters while retiring all four he faced in relief of starter Jimmy Nelson. Then, for the first time in the majors, Counsell used Hader on back-to-back days by summoning him to pitch the sixth inning of the finale.

Hader responded with a perfect inning, continuing his banner first season. In 21 outings, he has compiled a 1.23 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings.

“He has done a nice job,” Counsell said. “We’re trying to figure out how to get the most out of him. That’s probably the bigger challenge. He fits, going through a lineup one time. That’s probably ideal for him, in the middle of a game.

“That’s where we’ve tried to use him the most. As we go, we’re open to more and different (situations). We’re trying to get innings out of him, is the big thing. The middle of the game is a spot where he really fits to get the most outs.”

* Left-hander Brent Suter threw his first bullpen session since landing on the disabled list with a rotator cuff strain Aug. 13. The thinking is he should be ready to pitch when rosters can be expanded Sept. 1.

STAT SHEET

* Counsell recorded his 200th managerial win Tuesday night in the Brewers’ 4-3 victory over the Giants, becoming the seventh skipper in franchise history to reach that plateau. Counsell was unaware he was on the verge of that milestone.

“That’s not interesting to me, and I’m not into it,” he said. “What’s going on today and last night is far more interesting, for sure.”

* Braun was swinging the bat well before the trip but has struggled in the six games since leaving home, with three hits in 22 at-bats (.136).

TAKEAWAY

It is no secret the Brewers usually struggle to score runs when they don’t hit homers, and that was the case again in this series. Cavernous AT&T Park forces teams to string together hits to score and the Brewers were unable to do so for the most part. Really, they were lucky to win one of the three games.

RECORD

This year: 66-62 (35-30 home; 31-32 away)

Last year: 56-72

NEXT GAME

Friday: Brewers at Dodgers, 9:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (7-2, 2.83) vs. Los Angeles RHP Kenta Maeda (11-5, 3.88). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.