Brewers Belt Three Home Runs, Fall to Phillies as Wily Peralta Struggles

Jul 8, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Cody Asche (25) is out on a play at the plate as Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) catches the throw during the first inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Seven days into July and the Brewers are just 1-5 and have scored just 12 runs in those six games.

The Brewers looked to right the ship tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies with Wily Peralta (9-5, 3.35 ERA) taking on Kyle Kendrick (3-8, 4.12 ERA).

In an effort to jump-start the offense manager Ron Roenicke jumbled the lineup, moving Carlos Gomez back to the lead off spot. The offense did it’s job, knocking in seven runs, but Wily Peralta had nothing for the Phillies who powered their way to a 9-7 win.

Ben Revere led off with a single off the glove of Jean Segura to open the game for the Phillies, and he moved to second on a ground out by Jimmy Rollins.  Revere came around to score on a Chase Utley line out to Khris Davis in left. Ryan Howard struck out swinging to end the inning with the Phillies on top 1-0.

Gomez grounded out to open the first inning, but Scooter Gennett tied the game on the second pitch he saw with a bomb (7) over the wall in right. Jonathan Lucroy followed with a single, and moved to second on an Aramis Ramirez walk.

Davis followed with a walk of his own to load the bases with one out for Lyle Overbay who promptly smacked a grand slam (4) to clear the bases and give Milwaukee a 5-1 lead.

Marlon Byrd led off the second with a single. Segura fielded it cleanly but his throw pulled Overbay off the bag and it was ruled a single. Cody Asche followed with a single off the bag at third. Ramirez was in position to make the play, but it deflected to short after hitting the bag.

Domonic Brown walked to load the bases for Koyie Hill who hit an infield single. Gennett made a diving stop on the ball, but Hill beat the throw to first and Byrd came in to score. Kendrick grounded back to the mound, and Peralta threw Asche out at the plate for the first out with the bases still loaded.

Revere followed with a ground rule double to score Brown and Hill and see the lead disintegrate to one run. Rollins followed with a walk to reload the bases. The Phillies completed the come back when Utley singled to right to bring in Kendrick and Revere.

Howard flew out to Gomez for the second out of the inning to bring up Bryd, who led off the inning. With Byrd batting Rollins and Utley each moved up a base on a double steal where Lucroy had no chance but they stayed put as Byrd struck out to end the inning.

A double by Gomez (and steal of third) was the only action in the Brewer half of the second inning.

The Phillies added a run in the top of the third on a Brown home run (6) to make it 7-5.

Ramirez led off the bottom of the third with a single, but Davis, Overbay and Segura went down in order to end the inning.

Peralta put the Phillies down in order in the top of the fourth, for the first time in the game. Gomez and Gennett had two-out singles in the bottom half of the frame, but both were left stranded to end the inning.

Howard drew a five-pitch walk to open the fifth ahead of a Byrd strike out. Asche followed with a double to right, moving Howard to third and the night was over for Peralta as Tom Gorzelanny came on for Milwaukee to face Brown.

Brown singled to right, advancing to second on the throw home, to drive in Howard and Asche. Both runs were charged to Peralta whose final line was 4 1/3 innings pitched, allowing nine runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out four.

Hill lined out to Davis in left for the second out of the inning and Kendrick flew out to Schafer in right to end the frame with Philly on top 9-5.

The Crew went down weakly in the bottom half of the frame.  Brandon Kintzler came on to toss the sixth for Milwaukee, after just 2/3 of an inning for Gorzelanny.

Kintzler put Revere, Rollins and Utley down in order, Utley on a diving stop by Gennett.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth Schafer singled ahead of a Mark Reynolds pinch-hit home run (14) to bring the Brewers back within two runs. Two batters later Gennett reached on a looping single to left that Rollins couldn’t catch.

Lucroy followed with a double to right center that Bryd dove for but he couldn’t make the catch and Gennett moved to third. That was it for Kendrick as manager Ryne Sandberg called for Justin De Fratus to face Ramirez. Ramirez bounced to short to end the inning.

Zach Duke came on in the seventh for Milwaukee, ending Kintzler’s night. He quickly put down Howard, Byrd and Asche.

De Fratus got Davis to fly out to lead off the bottom of the inning, and gave way to reliever Jake Diekman who struck out Overbay and Segura to send the game to the eighth.

Wei-Chung Wang came on to relieve Duke in the eighth inning. He worked a one-two-three eighth inning making it the first time this season he’s had back-to-back scoreless outings.

Dieckman stayed out for the bottom of the eighth for the Phillies, and Rickie Weeks came on to pinch-hit for Logan Schafer.  Weeks coming in prompted a pitching change by the Phillies who brought in Ken Giles to face Weeks.

Weeks grounded out to open the inning, and Jeff Bianchi came in to pinch hit for Wang. Bianchi singled up the middle, off the foot of Giles to give Milwaukee a base runner.

Gomez followed with a bunt single to put two on for Gennett. Gennett knocked a hard line drive to left by Brown made the catch for the second out. Lucroy bounced out to Rollins to strand both runners and send the game to the ninth.

Francisco Rodriguez came on to pitch the ninth for Milwaukee with the top of the Phillies order due up in the inning. Weeks stayed in the game at second and Gennett went to right field to replace Schafer, who was pinch hit for.

K-Rod got Revere and Rollins quickly before Utley singled to right but Howard struck out weakly to end the inning.

Phillies closer Jonathan Pabelbon came on to work the save in the ninth. He put Milwaukee down in order in the ninth and earned his 21st save.

Kendrick earned the win for the Phillies and Peralta picked up the loss for Milwaukee.