15 July, 2017
So while seeing Pivetta give up eight runs in the second inning Friday night in the Phillies' 9-6 loss at Milwaukee was most certainly frustrating (see Instant Replay), you have to give him credit for the way he recovered.
Orlando Arcia and Ryan Braun (grand slam) clubbed home runs in the big second inning as the Brewers moved to a season-best 10 games over.500 (51-41).
Pivetta threw a first pitch slider to Braun that hung just above the zone, right down the middle, and Braun crushed it to dead-center for a grand slam. The 33-year-old sat out the final game before the All-Star break after aggravating his left calf injury, but the extended break apparently did the trick for him.
Zach Davies (11-4) won his fourth straight start, but it was a struggle. He was charged with six runs, five earned. "Free passes, there are times where you are maybe pitching around somebody, but in a game like this there were a couple of walks that hurt him".
"I mean, I'm (angry about) my performance, definitely", Davies said.
Manny Pina got a run back on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Davies walked three and gave up Odubel Herrera's two-run homer.
Luis Garcia pitched a scoreless seventh. Jared Hughes, Josh Hader, Jacob Barnes and Corey Knebel combined to finish out the win.
Big night at the plate for Maikel Franco, who went 4-5 with two doubles and drove in two runs. He struck out Tommy Joseph for his 44th consecutive appearance with a strikeout to start the season, a major league record. He came in 7 for 13 with three home runs and eight RBIs at the stadium.
Game two of the series is tonight. Milwaukee also recalled OF Brett Philips from Triple-A Colorado Springs. "We haven't got him on the ground running yet, which is something we need to do", manager Craig Counsell said.
Franco finished with four hits for Philadelphia while Aaron Altherr added a pair of doubles but had to leave the game in the fifth after suffering a mild strain of his right hamstring. Cameron Perkins pinch ran and replaced him in right field. "I don't know how severe it is".
"My concern was after giving up eight runs, going out there and trying to minimize the damage as much as I can so we don't have to wear out the bullpen or use too many position players". "If it's mild, it's a day or two". He is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA facing Milwaukee.
