Brewers drop another close game, 3-2, on Jankowski walk-off

Box Score

For the second time in as many games, the Brewers played well enough to win for most of the game. For the second time in as many games, the bullpen and the bats couldn’t close it out.

Today’s game was postponed about half an hour due to a rain delay, and both teams looked slightly rusty through the first couple of innings. In the top of the third, Jackson Chourio bounced a middle-middle splitter from Taj Bradley off the scoreboard to put the Brewers ahead, 1-0.

Chourio had been in somewhat of a slump, but he now has four hits in the last two games and has had a hit in six of his last seven. The OBP (.282) and OPS+ (106) could use some work, but I’ll take a 108-mph home run any day of the week.

In the bottom of the fourth, Taylor Walls tied the game up with an RBI double off of Tobias Myers. Travis Jankowski then hit a sac fly, scoring Kameron Misner and advancing Walls to third. Myers got Ben Rortvedt to ground out to first baseman Rhys Hoskins, limiting the damage to two runs.

It only took the Brewers a half inning to tie the game back up at 2-2. Joey Ortiz, who has been by far the worst hitter out of any of the Brewers’ starters this season, crushed a fastball to the opposite field for his first home run of the season. It was probably the best swing I’ve seen all year from Ortiz, who was much more of a contributor at the plate last season (.239/.329/.398 last season, .174/.232/.227 this season). Hopefully, Ortiz can keep building momentum, as he’s squared up some baseballs the last few weeks but hasn’t had much to show for it.

The next three innings were relatively uneventful. After another rain delay in the bottom of the fifth, the Brewers kept the game tied courtesy of three consecutive three-up, three-down innings from Abner Uribe, Nick Mears, and Jared Koenig (who bounced back quite nicely from last night’s outing).

In the top of the ninth, Milwaukee threatened to score again after consecutive errors and a walk loaded the bases. Unfortunately, Sal Frelick popped out (on the infield fly rule) for the second out. Caleb Durbin then flew out to center to end the inning, keeping the score at 2-2.

The Brewers wouldn’t get another chance to score. Grant Anderson, in for Koenig, gave up a leadoff single to Junior Caminero. Jose Caballero was tabbed to pinch run for Caminero, but William Contreras gunned him down trying to steal second for the first out. I know Contreras has been struggling at the plate compared to the last couple of seasons, but he’s been lights out defensively. Contreras has now caught 12 runners stealing, which leads the league.

Anderson then walked Misner, but got Walls to fly out to left fielder Isaac Collins. Then, manager Pat Murphy pulled Anderson. Supposedly, this was due to Anderson being on a limited pitch count.

Murph brought in closer Trevor Megill to get the final out. He was unable to do so. Misner stole second, and Megill, facing Jankowski, gave up a single to left. Misner rounded third base, and Collins charged the ball with enough time to make a play at the plate. However, Collins misplayed the ball when he came up to throw, allowing Misner to score without a throw.

Losing such a close game stings, and losing a close game for the second game in a row stings even more. My gut is to blame the loss on the bullpen, but Milwaukee recorded just four hits all game. One of them was Joey Ortiz, who can’t be counted on to hit a home run every game. Taj Bradley, he of a career 4.67 ERA, went six pretty strong innings with just two earned runs (the homers by Chourio and Ortiz). Milwaukee needs to be better, in general. Yeah, it hurts to lose on a walk-off, but the Brewers shouldn’t count on winning games in which they only score two runs.

The Crew will get a chance to bounce back and avoid the sweep tomorrow at 12:40 p.m CT. Chad Patrick gets the start for Milwaukee, facing off against Drew Rasmussen (1-3, 3.09 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.