Brewers shut out for 2nd straight game
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It can't get much worse for the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers were shut out for the second straight game and this one came at the hands of 37-year-old Jeff Suppan, who made his first major league appearance since 2010.
Also, reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun left the game with an Achilles injury.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Suppan threw five solid innings to win his first game since Oct. 3, 2010, leading the San Diego Padres to a 5-0 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday.
The Brewers have lost five of seven games and have struggled offensively.
"It's certainly not the way we envisioned," said Braun, who left the game in the sixth inning with a strained right Achilles tendon. "It's not the way we drew it up. But at the same time, I think all of us have been around long enough to recognize there's a lot of baseball left."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Brewers will have a harder time getting back in the offensive groove if Braun is out for any length of time. Braun, who hit three homers, a triple and had six RBIs on Monday night against San Diego, said he hurt the Achilles tendon sliding into second base in Tuesday night's game.
"''It's just a little sore," Braun said. "We'll see how it feels (Thursday)."
The Brewers have a day off and open a three-game series Friday night at San Francisco.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Suppan, called up from Triple-A Tucson to start in place of the injured Cory Luebke, won for the first time since a 6-1 victory over Colorado as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals on the final day of the 2010 regular season.
The 37-year-old Suppan limited the Brewers to four singles, walked two and struck out two as he combined with three relievers for the shutout.
"It doesn't surprise me at all," Braun said. "He's had plenty of success. It's disappointing. It'd be nice if we could have gotten to him."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Suppan, who spent the entire 2011 season with Kansas City's Triple-A affiliate Omaha, gave up consecutive, one-out singles to Corey Hart and Jonathan Lucroy in both the second and fourth innings. The Brewers loaded the bases in both innings, but Suppan escaped each time.
In the second, Suppan struck out Yovani Gallardo (1-3) to end the inning, Suppan got Travis Ishikawa to hit into a double play to get out of the fourth.
Suppan got the start in place of Luebke, who went on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained left elbow.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cameron Maybin and Jose Guzman each drove in two runs as the Padres won their first series of the season by taking two of three from Milwaukee.
The Padres threw their second straight shutout, the first time since July 2-3, 2010, against Houston. San Diego beat the Brewers 2-0 on Tuesday night.
Ernesto Frieri pitched the sixth, Luke Gregerson threw two innings and rookie Dale Thayer pitched the ninth to complete the shutout.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"For some reason, we haven't been able to get the big hit," Gallardo said. "It just seems like we are not swinging the bats well. It's a struggle."
Gallardo allowed three runs and seven hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked four.
With one out in the third, Mark Kotsay doubled in a run. After San Diego loaded the bases with two outs, Maybin lined a two-run single to right field. The Padres loaded the bases again before Gallardo retired Andy Parrino on a fly out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Guzman added a pinch-hit, two-run double in the eighth off Vinnie Chulk.
NOTES: Suppan, who played for Milwaukee from 2007-10, has a 13-2 record against the Brewers, winning his last seven decisions against them. ... Suppan, who made his major-league debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1995, is playing for his seventh big league club. ... To make room for Suppan on the 40-man roster, the Padres moved INF-OF Kyle Blanks (strained left shoulder) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. ... Suppan is the oldest San Diego starting pitcher since Greg Maddux, 42, made 28 starts in 2008. .... San Diego RHP Anthony Bass (1-3, 2.30 ERA) will face RHP Josh Johnson (0-3, 5.34) in the opener of a three-game series Friday night at home against Miami. ... Brewers RHP Zack Greinke (3-1, 3.94) faces RHP Tim Lincecum (2-2, 5.74) Friday night at San Francisco in the first of three games.