Brewers mid-summer swoon continues

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PHILADELPHIA - Francisco Rodriguez failed to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning last night, and the Milwaukee Brewers lost at Philadelphia 7-6.

The Phillies scored four runs in the final frame off Milwaukee’s new closer, and the Brewers walked away with their fourth straight loss – which ties a season-high. Carlos Ruiz tied the game with an RBI-single. And Ty Wigginton won it with a sacrifice fly that scored Erik Kratz. Rodriguez took the loss and dropped to 2-5. And he blew his fifth save opportunity of the year. It ruined a quality start by Randy Wolf, who gave up two runs in six innings. Those were back-to-back homers by Chase Utley and Ryan Howard – and Howard’s blast was originally ruled a double before a replay review overturned it. Joe Savery got the win in relief. He’s 1-2. Phillies’ starter Roy Halladay gave up six runs in six innings. And with three strikeouts, Halladay fell one short of two-thousand K’s for his career.

The Phillies lost Shane Victorino in the first inning after he was hit by a pitch, and was called out because he swung on strike-three. He bruised his right elbow. Carlos Gomez belted a three-run homer and scored three times for the Brewers, who keep fading from playoff contention. They’re now five-and-a-half games out of third place in the National League Central, 11-and-a-half away from the division lead, and eight games back for a Wild Card spot. The Phillies won back-to-back home games for the first time in almost a month – and they’ll host the Brewers again tonight. Right-hander Zack Greinke will make his first start in 11 days, while numerous scouts watch the possible trade candidate. Left-hander Cliff Lee will start for the Phils'.

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Brewers’ starter Shaun Marcum will test his right throwing elbow today, when he throws in his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list in mid-June. Marcum is recovering from elbow tightness – and he’s been playing long catch with no problems. Marcum expects to throw 20-to-30 pitches today. If all goes well, he could throw a simulated game before heading off to a minor league rehab assignment.

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Meanwhile, catcher Jonathan Lucroy could return to the Milwaukee lineup as early as Thursday after his minor league rehab assignment. He went 4-for-12 in four games with the Class-“A” Wisconsin Timber Rattlers with a double, two RBI’s, and a stolen base. Lucroy is expected to play two games for Triple-“A” Nashville, and then perhaps return to Milwaukee for the start of a series against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. Lucroy broke his right hand in late May.

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Brewers’ outfield prospect Kentrail Davis has been named the offensive player-of-the-week in the Double-“A” Southern League. The 24-year-old Davis batted .450 in six games for Huntsville last week, going 9-for-20 with a double, three triples, a homer, three RBI’s, and six runs scored. Davis has four homers this season – and all but one have come in July. The Brewers drafted him in the first round in 2009 as the 39th overall pick.

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