Marlins 6, Brewers 2: More struggles for Freddy Peralta

Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

One bad inning made the difference for Freddy Peralta on Friday night.

The right-hander allowed a pair of home runs within the first five batters of the game and the Milwaukee Brewers played from behind the rest of the way in a lackluster 6-2 loss to the National League's worst team in the Miami Marlins at American Family Field.

Rhys Hoskins homered in the third inning to provide the lone highlight for an offense that managed seven hits and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

"Credit goes to the Marlins. They played us tough down there. They played us tough here, playing with nothing to lose," manager Pat Murphy said. Indeed, the Brewers have dropped three of their four meetings to date with the Marlins and five of their last seven home games.

"I just don't like the way what I did. I didn't like anything about the game tonight."

The Brewers also did some minor roster shuffling before the game, placing left-hander Rob Zastryzny on the 15-day injured list with left elbow tendinitis and recalling right-hander Janson Junk from Class AAA Nashville.

Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz tumbles over the rolled-up tarp chasing a foul pop up against the Marlins as leftfielder Jackson Chourio comes to his aid during the second inning Friday night at American Family Field.
Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz tumbles over the rolled-up tarp chasing a foul pop up against the Marlins as leftfielder Jackson Chourio comes to his aid during the second inning Friday night at American Family Field.

First-inning struggles for Peralta

Peralta entered the night having allowed four homers in the opening inning this season, the most in any frame he's pitched.

He added two more to that total in falling into a quick 3-0 hole. After walking Jazz Chisholm Jr. to open he gave up a two-run blast to Bryan De La Cruz two batters later, then Jake Burger followed suit with a solo shot.

BOX SCORE: Marlins 6, Brewers 2

Peralta retired the first two batters in the second then allowed a broken-bat single followed by a pair of walks to load the bases. De La Cruz then hit a chopper to Willy Adames that he mishandled, allowing two more runs to cross and the deficit to grow to 5-0.

"A lot of starting pitchers go through that," said Murphy. "Freddy's had a couple of those. I guess we see him so often; he takes the ball every time out.

"So, he's entitled."

Rhys Hoskins gets the Brewers on the board

Milwaukee's first hit off Rogers came in the form of a leadoff homer in the third by Hoskins, who tied Adames for the team lead with No. 16.

The Brewers appeared primed to cut into the deficit even further after Sal Frelick doubled and Jackson Chourio reached on a one-out infield single. But one pitch later Chourio was thrown out trying to steal second and then Brice Turang grounded out, quickly ending the threat.

They pulled to within 5-2 in the fourth after William Contreras doubled to lead off, advanced to third on a fly ball to center by Adames and tagged and scored on a fly to shallow left by Gary Sánchez.

Another lackluster start for Freddy Peralta

Peralta (6-6) recorded the first out in the sixth inning before making way for Hoby Milner. He threw 97 pitches in all and allowed six hits, five runs (three earned) and five walks with four strikeouts.

The five walks were one shy of tying a season (and career) high, and he hasn't won a start since June 30.

"The only thing I didn't like about tonight was the walks," said Peralta, with his locker mate Adames chiming in, "I messed up. I made an error. My fault," to at least assume some of the heat.

"I should have made better pitches. It's hard to give up runs in the first or second innings because you know your job is to keep the game close as long as we can. That's the mentality after that, and I feel good because today I was able to do that.

"Credit to them pitching tonight because we couldn't score more runs. But the thing I take away and have to work on from today is the walks that I gave up today."

Indeed, Milwaukee was unable to put any sustained pressure on Miami starter Trevor Rogers – who entered the game with a 1-9 record and 4.59 ERA – and he ended up matching Peralta's 5 ⅓ innings.

Miami wrapped up the scoring on a solo homer by Josh Bell off Junk in the ninth.

Brewers time, TV, radio

The Brewers game starts at 7:10 p.m. Friday.

TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620 and a state network.

Brewers lineup

  • Jackson Chourio LF

  • Brice Turang 2B

  • William Contreras C

  • Willy Adames SS

  • Gary Sánchez DH

  • Joey Ortiz 3B

  • Rhys Hoskins 1B

  • Sal Frelick RF

  • Blake Perkins CF

Marlins lineup

  • Jazz Chisholm Jr. DH

  • Xavier Edwards SS

  • Bryan De La Cruz LF

  • Josh Bell 1B

  • Jake Burger 3B

  • Jesús Sánchez RF

  • Otto Lopez 2B

  • Nick Gordon CF

  • Nick Fortes C

Brewers schedule

Brewers vs. Marlins, 6:10 p.m. Saturday. Milwaukee RHP Aaron Civale (2-7, 5.11) vs. Miami . Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.

Brewers vs. Marlins, 1:10 p.m. Sunday. Milwaukee RHP Tobias Myers (6-4, 3.14) vs. Miami TBA. Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marlins 6, Brewers 2: More struggles for Freddy Peralta

Advertisement