Nats get swept in Milwaukee, lose series finale 7-1
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The Nationals' offense never got on track against Brewers pitching, not only this afternoon, but in the entire series.
Dave Bush held Washington to one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings to earn his seventh win of the season. Three Brewers relievers combined to shut down the Nationals the rest of the way, as Milwaukee won their sixth straight game and in the process swept the 4-game series from Washington. The Brewers won the season series 6-2 and won the final five games.
Garrett Mock, making a spot start so the Nats didn't have Odalis Perez pitching on short rest, didn't make it out of fifth and was credited with the loss, his third of the year.
Mock gave up four runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out nine.
Leading 1-0, Rickie Weeks led-off the home half of the first with his 10th home run of the season. Mock settled down in the second and third, but ran into trouble in the fourth.
A lead-off walk to Prince Fielder was followed by a 2-run bomb by Corey Hart for the 3-1 lead. It was Hart's 18th homer of the season and second in the series.
Washington had a chance to get back in the game in the fifth. Kory Casto led-off with a walk and Wil Nieves followed with a single. Mock, looking to advance the runners was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out.
Harris topped a ball out in front of the plate. Catcher Jason Kendall retrieved it and stepped on home plate for the first out. The next batter, Pete Orr, struck out. Ryan Zimmerman then hit a weak grounder to second to end the inning.
Mock got two quick outs in the fifth, but issued a walk to Gabe Kapler. Kapler stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Fielder then doubled him home and Mock's day was over; he left the game trailing 4-1.
The Nationals had another chance in the seventh, but again, failed to capitalize. Two Brewer errors put runners on first and second with one-out. Cristian Guzman, pinch-hitting for Orr, grounded into the 6-4-3 inning-ending doubleplay.
Milwaukee scored three more times in the bottom of the inning to break the game open. Craig Counsell doubled home two runs off Charlie Manning to make it 6-1. Harris tried to make a diving catch, but came up empty and the ball got past him for the 2-run double.
Manning then walked three straight batters to force in a run. Washington pitchers walked seven Brewers on the afternoon.
The Nationals had two on in the eighth, but couldn't push a run across. Washington stranded 10 runners on the day.
Postgame Notes
Lastings Milledge extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a sixth inning single. He's hitting .388 with a triple, five homers, 10 RBI, four walks, three stolen bases and eight runs during the streak.
Nationals pitchers issued 31 base on balls in the four-game series, while the Brewers only six.
Brewers starters pitched 31 1/3 innings and gave up two runs in the four games. That's a 0.57 ERA.
Nationals starters went 20 2/3 innings, giving up 14 runs, 12 earned. That's a 5.23 ERA.
The Nationals were outscored 39-22 in the eight meetings this year and they have lost seven straight games at Miller Park, dating back to last season.
Washington, who started 3-1 on the 8-game road trip, finished at 3-5.
The Nationals fall to 33-23 when scoring first this year, 4-41 when scoring less that three runs, drop to 16-22 in series finale's, and have lost 42 of 63 road games. They have also been swept in a series for the 11th time this season and fall to 5-15-1 in road series.
Final Linescore
Nationals 1-6-2
Brewers 7-8-2
WP-Bush (7-9)
LP-Mock (0-3)
HR-Weeks (10), Hart (18)
Pete McElroy's Live Gameblog
Brewers scoring, 7th inning
Willie Harris tried to make an inning-ending diving catch in left, he didn't come up with the ball and the Brewers extend their lead to 6-1.
With runners on the corners, Craig Counsell hit a liner to left, off Charlie Manning, that was sinking quickly. Harris dove for it, just missed that ball and it got behind him, allowing both runners to score.
Manning then walked three straight batters to force in the seventh run for the Brewers. Nationals pitchers have issued seven walks today and 30 in the four games of this series.
Brewers scoring, 5th inning
Garrett Mock looked to be getting tired in the fifth inning. He was leaving pitches up in the zone and it led to the Brewers taking a 4-1 lead.
A 2-out walk to Gabe Kapler got the mini-rally started. Mock's throwing error, on a pick-off attempt, allowed Kapler to move to second. A wild pitch put Kapler on third and he scored easily on Prince Fielder's double. Mock hung a 3-2 curveball and Fielder drove it to the gap in left-center. Mock lasted 4 2/3 innings, givinh up four runs on five hits and three walks, one intentionally. He struckout nine, while throwing 102 pitches, 60 for strikes.
Nationals missed opportunity
Washington loaded the bases with nobody out, in the fifth, and couldn't score. Kory Casto walked, Wil Nieves singled and Garrett Mock was hit by a pitch, on a 1-2 count. Willie Harris topped a ball in front of the plate. Catcher Jason Kendall picked it up and stepped on the plate for the first out. Pete Orr struck out and Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to second to end the threat. It's pretty bad when the Nationals can't get the ball out of the infield to at least get one run.
Brewers scoring, 4th inning
Just when it looked like Garrett Mock was finding his groove, he walked Prince Fielder, on four pitches, and served up a two run homer to Corey Hart, giving the Brewers a 3-1 lead.
Mock needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in order in the third and struck out two in the inning. Mock threw 20 pitches in the first, giving up a lead-off homer to Rickie Weeks. Of the 12 outs Mock has recorded, eight are strikeouts.
Mock thru 3 innings
Garrett Mock allowed a lead-off homer, to Rickie Weeks, but has settled down since that 20 pitch first inning. He stranded two runners in the second. Mike Cameron reached on shortstop Pete Orr's throwing error and he intentionally walked Jason Kendall to get to pitcher Dave Bush, who he struck out. Mock retired the side in order in the third.
3 IP, H, R, IBB, 5 K, HR. 44 pitches, 28 strikes.
Brewers scoring, 1st inning
Rickie Weeks hit a 3-1 fastball, from Garrett Mock, to dead center field, leading off the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 1-1.
Nationals play small ball
For the first time in this series, the Nationals were able to get a run in the first inning. Willie Harris singled and stole second, his eighth of the season. Pete Orr pulled the ball to the right side of the infield allowing Harris to advance to third. Ryan Zimmerman singled to left, on a hanging breaking ball, scoring Harris easily and putting the Nationals up 1-0.
Starting Line-ups
Nationals
LF Willie Harris
SS Pete Orr
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Austin Kearns
CF Lastings Milledge
2B Ronnie Belliard
1B Kory Casto
C Wil Nieves
P Garrett Mock
Brewers
2B Rickie Weeks
SS J.J. Hardy
LF Gabe Kapler
1B Prince Fielder
RF Corey Hart
3B Craig Counsell
CF Mike Cameron
C Jason Kendall
P Dave Bush
Game Preview
Nationals (44-74) at Milwaukee (67-51)
The Nationals are trying to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Brewers and hoping to end their road trip with a victory.
Garrett Mock will get a spot start against opposing pitcher Dave Bush.
Yesterday, Washington was able to finally get some runs off Brewers pitching. They were held scoreless for 27 straight innings before getting an RBI single from Lastings Milledge in the sixth.
Milwaukee goes for their sixth straight win, as they look to stay four games behind Chicago in the NL Central.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Garrett Mock (0-2, 5.27), who was recalled from Triple-A Columbus last Thursday, will get the spot start so Odalis Perez doesn't have to pitch on three days rest.
Mock, in his fourth stint with the Nationals this season, is making his third start. His three previous appearances with Washington were out of the bullpen.
Mock's first two starts weren't very successful. He gave up four runs in each game, going 4 1/3 and six innings respectively. The second start, on June 21st against Texas, didn't result in a win, but he pitched six good innings, giving up four runs on eight hits. Mock struck out eight and walked one.
In his three relief appearances for the Nationals, Mock tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, giving up one hit, striking out five and walking none.
Mock has never faced the Brewers in his career.
RHP Dave Bush (6-9, 4.50) is aiming for his second straight victory, something he hasn't done since the end of June.
Bush tossed seven strong innings last Tuesday, giving up one run in the 8-1 win over the Reds in Cincinnati. He gave up three hits, walked two and struck out seven to earn his first win since July 10th. At one point, he retired 17 straight Reds.
Bush is making his first start against the Nationals since beating Washington 6-2 July 6, 2007. He gave up one run, a solo homer by Ronnie Belliard, in seven innings. Bush gave up seven hits, struck out seven and walked two.
This is the 12th start at Miller Park for Bush. He's 4-3 with a 3.30 ERA. In his career after the All-Star break, Bush has a 23-17 record, compared to 17-28 before the Midsummer Classic.
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