Milwaukee Brewers: How miserable was tonight’s game?

The Milwaukee Brewers returned from a nine-game West Coast road trip that saw them go 5-4. They won two out of three series, with both series victories coming against a teams that will play in October. After an off day on Monday, they returned home to face the rival St. Louis Cardinals. The result was awful.

The St. Louis Cardinals pounded the Milwaukee Brewers 10-to-2 on Tuesday night. The final score actually makes the game sound closer than it was. How awful was Tuesday night’s effort, really?

Where Did The Milwaukee Brewers Struggle?

Everywhere. Literally everywhere. They didn’t hit well. The Brewers didn’t field well. Matt Garza and Co. certainly didn’t pitch well. They were the exact opposite of the team that just took two-out-of-three from the Dodgers.

Brewers starter Matt Garza was lifted partway through the fourth inning. Garza was tagged for six runs, three earned, on four hits and five(!) walks. Somehow, Garza struck out two Cardinals.

The general awfulness was limited to just Garza. Relievers Carlos Torres and Oliver Drake failed to keep the Cardinals offense at bay. They combined to surrender four more runs.

In the field, the Milwaukee Brewers committed three errors. Normally sure-handed third baseman Travis Shaw misplayed a grounder, catcher Manny Pina screwed up a catch, and reliever Jacob Barnes added a fielding error late in the game.

At the plate, the Brewers offense matched their pitching and defense for overall wretchedness. Other than an early homer from Eric Thames, the Milwaukee Brewers never really threatened the Cardinals. They banged out eight hits, but only one, the Thames homer, went for extra bases. They also only managed to draw a single walk.

Where Do The Brewers Go From Here?

The Brewers still have a month to catch the Chicago Cubs. They can’t afford to get blown out at home like this if they’re going to keep pace or threaten for the division lead. Tuesday night’s effort was frustrating in every facet of the game. It’s over now. The team needs to turn the page and refocus their effort on the next game.

Next: Is The NL Central Already Lost?

The Milwaukee Brewers are back at it  in Miller Par on Wednesday, August 30th at 1:10 PM local time against the Cardinals. Chase Anderson takes the mound against Cardinals ace Carlos Martinez. Hopefully, Brewers manager Craig Counsell shakes up the lineup and wakes the team up. They certainly appeared to sleepwalk their way through Tuesday night’s game.