Brewers fall to Padres despite strong outing for Nelson
MILWAUKEE -- James Shields left an impression on Jimmy Nelson.
Shields had a season-high nine strikeouts in seven innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.
Nelson (4-3) pitched a season-high eight innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits but lost for the second time in his last seven starts. The 26-year-old said he admires Shields for his stamina.
"I think it's nine or 10 years in a row he's thrown over 200 innings," Nelson said. "That's pretty impressive. You think something crazy would happen where you miss a few starts."
Ryan Braun extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Brewers, who are 3-6 in their last nine games.
"He's pretty hot this year," Shields said.
Milwaukee put the leadoff batter on in four of the first six innings, but Shields avoided damage each time in his first start against the Brewers in his 11-year career.
"He was down all night," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "That was the big thing. I don't know if I can remember a night where we chased as much as tonight and that's because his offspeed was all strike-to-ball offspeed. We chased for a reason, because he made good pitches."
In the first, Shields allowed a leadoff double to Domingo Santana and then a single to Scooter Gennett. Gennett was thrown out in a run down between first and second, though, and then Shields got Braun and Jonathan Lucroy to ground out.
Jonathan Villar singled to lead off the sixth for Milwaukee. Another single by Gennett put runners on first and third with one out, but Braun hit into a double play.
"We had the right guy up there, for sure," Counsell said.
San Diego won its third straight game for the first time this season. Shields (2-5) allowed seven hits and one walk, Brandon Maurer pitched the eighth inning and Ryan Buchter had the ninth for his first major league save.
Melvin Upton Jr. homered for the fourth time and had three hits, two RBIs and two runs for the Padres one day after San Diego swept a doubleheader at the Chicago Cubs.
San Diego was able to capitalize when its leadoff batters reached, beginning in the fourth when Wil Myers singled. He stole second and scored on a two-out single by Upton to center field.
The Padres took a 2-0 lead in the seventh. Upton led off with a double, advanced to third on a fly out to right field by Christian Bethancourt and scored on a sacrifice fly to left from Alexei Ramirez.
Upton's solo blast came in the ninth off reliever Tyler Thornburg, giving him two homers in three days.
ARMING UP
After the game, the Brewers announced they acquired RHP Jhan Marinez from Tampa Bay for cash and designated LHP Michael Kirkman for assignment.
FACED THEM ALL
Shields has now faced all 30 teams and has pitched in every current stadium but Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner will miss his turn Friday because of cramps in both hamstrings. Manager Andy Green says Cashner is scheduled to pitch Saturday but "we'll see if he's capable of making that start."
Brewers: 2B Gennett (right oblique) was reinstated from the DL before the game and INF Yadiel Rivera was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
UP NEXT
Padres: Christian Friedrich will be called up from Triple-A Tuscon on Friday to replace Cashner.
Brewers: RHP Junior Guerra (1-0, 6.00) makes his third major-league start.
