Brewer losing streak now at seven as Washington wins easily

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The Milwaukee Brewers lost their seventh straight game last night, 8-to-2 to the Washington Nationals at Miller Park. The Nationals won their sixth straight, and they scored all the runs they needed in the second inning. Adam LaRoche homered in his third straight game with a solo shot. And Steve Lombardozzi belted a three-run triple to make it 4-nothing early. Meanwhile, the Brewer offense struggled, as Edwin Jackson pitched seven scoreless innings. He gave up eight hits and a walk, while striking out four to even his record at 6-and-6. Yovani Gallardo took the loss and fell to 8-and-8. He gave up seven runs on seven hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts. Jim Henderson, whom the Brewers called up earlier in the day, made his Major League debut after 10 years in the minors. He threw a perfect sixth inning. Tyler Thornburg gave up a run in the seventh, and left in the eighth with what the Brewers called arm fatigue. Carlos Gomez hit a two-run homer in the eighth for Milwaukee’s only scoring. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy had an infield single in three at-bats, in his first game since late May. Aramis Ramirez went 2-for-3 with his 33rd double of the year. Washington’s Danny Espinoza ended an 11-game hitting streak after going 0-for-4. The Nationals continue to lead the N-L East, and they’re now 20 games above .500 – a first for a team in the nation’s capital since 1945. The Brewers dropped to 10 below .500, and 14 games behind first place Cincinnati in the N-L Central. The Brewers and Nationals play again tonight. Right-hander Mike Fiers faces Nats’ left-hander Ross Detwiler.

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Brewers’ general manager Doug Melvin said he had ongoing talks with several clubs last night about trading right-handed ace Zack Greinke. He called the 27-year-old Greinke the best pitcher available on the market, as Tuesday’s trade deadline gets closer. And Melvin said he’s starting to tell clubs about specific players that he wants in return. The G-M said there could be a deal at any time. Texas, Atlanta, the Chicago White Sox, and Anaheim are now said to be the most aggressive in seeking Greinke. He’s scheduled to pitch against Washington on Sunday at Miller Park – and Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson says he’ll be surprise if Greinke shows up. He’s 9-and-3 with a 3.44 E-R-A. And in one-and-a-half seasons with Milwaukee, Greinke has gone 15-and-0 at home.

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