Framing the Friars: Heart of Brewers Lineup Keys Sweep of Padres
Credit: AP Photo
San Diego, California
It had been 713 days since the last time Robbie Erlin stepped on a mound in a major league game.
The left-handed pitcher made his first MLB appearance since April 17, 2016, when he entered in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 31.
Erlin had Tommy John surgery on May 16, 2016. He didn’t pitch at all during the 2017 season, but was a rotation candidate during Spring Training this season.
Erlin pitched three and two-thirds inning against the Brewers, allowing two runs on three hits in a 7-3 loss.
Erlin entered the game in the fifth inning. Luis Perdomo made the start, giving up five runs over four innings. All of that damage was done by Milwaukee’s 2-3-4 combination of Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain and Travis Shaw.
Those three combined for 10 hits and seven RBI. Yelich went 5-for-5 in the game with two of those RBI. He crossed the plate three times, as well.
Shaw drove in the first run of the game, in the first inning, with an RBI-single. His single drove in Yelich. Cain advanced to third, and Shaw went to second on the throw from the outfield.
Perdomo struck out the next two hitters to avoid any more damage in that first inning. He had seven strikeouts in his four innings, but allowing seven hits and four walks really drove up his pitch count.
The Padres took the lead for a brief moment. Freddy Galvis hit is first home run as a Padre, in the second inning. He turned on a 3-2 fastball from Milwaukee starter Brent Suter, and sent it over the wall in left. His home run drove in Hunter Renfroe, who led off the inning with a triple.
We’ve got video here of a @Hunter_Renfroe triple and a @freddygalvis10 blast. Just what you expected, right? #LetsGoPadres pic.twitter.com/Dlrida337Z
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 1, 2018
Shaw came up big again for Milwaukee in the third inning. With Yelich and Cain at second and third, Shaw hit a ground-rule double, making the score 3-2. Perdomo got out of the third without allowing any more damage.
Eric Hosmer drove in his first RBI in a Padres uniform in the bottom of the third. He hit a double to left field that drove in Pirela, tying the game 3-3.
Yelich and Cain each drove in a run in the top of the fourth inning, and that was it for Perdomo. Erlin entered the game in the top of the fifth inning, making his first appearance in an MLB game in just under two years.
Erlin didn’t record any strikeouts, but he did well at keeping the Brewers offense contained for a majority of the time he spent on the mound. He retired nine of the first 10 hitters he faced.
He surrendered an RBI-single to Yelich in the top of the eighth. He was relieved by Adam Cimber. Erlin was on the hook for two baserunners when Cimber entered the game. One of those runners scored on an RBI-single by Cain. He sent Cimber’s first pitch into left.
The Padres were swept by Milwaukee to kick off the 2018 season. This was perhaps not expected, given the additions made in the offseason, paired with the fact this young team has some experience. However, it is early.
The Padres will have an unusual day off on April 1. It’s unusual because Sundays are not a typical off day for MLB teams.
They will begin a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies on April 2. The game begins at 7:10 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
Mike is the sports editor for the Fayette Advertiser, and has been with East Village Times since 2015. His work has appeared on Bleacher Report. He is an avid Padres fan who is keeping the faith and trusting the process.