Brewers Can’t Figure out Hutchison, Fall to Blue Jays

Jul 1, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view as a Canadian flag is unfurled across the outfield for Canada Day before the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

The Brewers and Blue Jays came into Tuesday’s game on opposite trajectories. The Brewers had won 15 of their last 22 games, while the Blue Jays had lost 15 of their last 22 games.

The Brewers looked to keep those trends going as they sent Marco Estrada (7-4, 5.00 ERA) to the hill against Drew Hutchison (5-6, 3.83 ERA).

Coming back after their first day-off in 21 days, the Brewers left their bats at the hotel as they fell to the Blue Jays 4-1 and the Toronto starter earned a career high in strike outs.

Hutchison put the Brewers down in order to start the game, including strike outs of Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy.  In the bottom of the inning, Jose Bautista returned to the lineup after a nine-day absence and took Estrada deep (16) to center field to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.

Hutchison cruised through the Brewer lineup in both the second and third innings, and Estrada allowed only a single to Munenori Kawasaki in the third.

Hutchison completed his fourth perfect inning with two more strike outs of Braun and Lucroy to give him eight K’s in just four innings of work. Estrada got all three hitters in his half of the fourth to fly out to Khris Davis in left.

With two outs in the top of the fifth Khris Davis grounded up the middle and beat a high throw to first to break up the no-hitter and perfect game by Hutchison but Overbay flew out to leave the shutout intact.

Colby Rasmus homered (12) to lead off the bottom of the fifth for Toronto, increasing the lead to 2-0. Juan Francisco singled to right ahead of a Kawasaki ground out for the first out. Francisco got thrown out trying to steal second on a botched hit-and-run attempt and Anthony Gose struck out to end the inning.

With two outs in the top of the sixth Scooter Gennett knocked a broken bat single to left for the first Brewers hit to the outfield. He came in to score on a double by Ryan Braun, barely fair down the right field line to make it 2-1. Lucroy grounded out to Francisco to end the inning.

Jose Reyes led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center. He rounded first a little too far and nearly got thrown out, but he made it back in time. He was erased on a 3-6-3 double play ball off the bat of Melky Cabrera. Bautista popped out to end the frame.

In the top of the seven the Brewers earned their first free pass of the game when Carlos Gomez drew a walk. Gomez stole second and moved into scoring position on the first pitch to Aramis Ramirez.

Gomez moved to third on a ground out to short by Ramirez. Hutchison plunked Davis on the next pitch to put runners at the corners for Lyle Overbay. Davis was picked off and got into a run down.  Edwin Encarnacion hesitated with a throw and Davis dove under the tag to reach second base. He was credited with a steal.

Overbay struck out for the second out of the inning. Reynolds walked to cap an eight-pitch at-bat to load the bases for Jean Segura. Segura lined hard to right, but right at Gose to strand the bases loaded.

Khris Davis left the game after the inning. Adam McCalvy reported that he was holding his right shoulder after the run down. He was replaced by Elian Herrera.

Estrada walked Encarnacion to open the bottom half of the inning. Dioner Navarro followed with a single to end the day for Estrada as Ron Roenicke called for Zach Duke.

Duke induced a fly ball by Rasmus for the first out of the inning. Steve Tolleson  came in to pinch hit for Francisco, and the Crew stuck with Duke who struck him out on four pitches. Kawasaki grounded out back to Duke to end the inning. Duke threw one inning and had one strike out.

The final line on Estrada was six plus innings of work, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk. He struck out two and left in line for the loss.

Aaron Loup came out for the top of the eighth for Toronto, ending the day for Hutchison who threw seven innings and allowed one run on three hits and two walks. He struck out a career high 10 hitters and left in line for the win.

Rickie Weeks came on to hit for Gennett against the left-handed Loup. Weeks got plunked on an 0-2 pitch to put a runner on base. Dustin McGowan came on to replace Loup and he got Braun to bounce into a double play to erase Weeks.

Lucroy followed with an eight pitch walk to bring Gomez to the plate. Gomez worked the count but ended up striking out on a full count to end the inning.

The Brewers called on Rob Wooten to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Adam Lind pitch hit for Anthony Gose, after Brad Glenn had already been announced. Lind singled to right and was replaced by pinch runner Darin Mastroianni.

Reyes followed with a fly ball out to Gomez in center for the first out before Cabrera knocked triple to right center to bring in Mastoianni and make the game 3-1. Bautista struck out swinging for the second out.

Encarnacion doubled off the wall in center to bring in Cabrera and extend the lead to 4-1. The inning ended on a Navarro ground out.

Closer Casey Janssen came on for the Blue Jays in the ninth. He quickly put down Ramirez before a swinging-bunt single by Herrera. Overbay grounded out to second, moving Herrera up a base and Reynolds popped out to end the game.

Estrada picked up the loss for Milwaukee after giving up just two runs in six plus innings of work. Hutchison earned the win for the Blue Jays after a dominating 10-strike-out performance.

Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak with the win as the Brewers dropped their second in a row. The two will pick it back up tomorrow when Wily Peralta (9-5, 3.20 ERA) takes on J.A. Happ (7-4, 4.29 ERA).