Ian Kennedy’s aggressiveness on the mound, with the ability to throw four pitches effectively, earns him high marks with manager A.J. Hinch.Kennedy, called upon to restore a bit of order after an embarrassing loss the night before, did not get the reward he pitched well enough to earn Sunday. The Diamondbacks dropped a 6-1 decision to the Brewers in front 25,358 at Chase Field.
Kennedy (2-2) threw seven innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs and struck out five. He worked out of a tight spot, as well, to keep the Diamondbacks in the game.A three-run home run in the eighth inning by Casey McGehee off reliever Esmerling Vasquez – followed by a solo blast from Gregg Zaun – put the game away for the Brewers.
The game took a key wrong turn for the Diamondbacks in the bottom of the seventh when they were trailing 2-1.Chris Young led off with a single, and Stephen Drew doubled him to third – but he was caught in no-man’s land as Young broke for home, and he was out in a rundown while Young went back to third.
Catcher Chris Snyder then drew a walk. Rusty Ryal pinch-hit for Kennedy, popping out to first, leaving it to Kelly Johnson, facing new Brewers pitcher Mitch Stetter, who was called up Saturday from the minors. He ended the threat by getting Johnson to fly to center.
The Diamondbacks had managed only two infield hits off Narveson through five innings, and they had a chance to do some damage in the bottom of the sixth. Without the benefit of a hit, the Diamondbacks had runners on first and third with two out, and Adam LaRoche delivered a single to right field to cut the Brewers’ lead to a run.At that point, Narveson was lifted in favor of reliever Todd Coffey, who got Mark Reynolds to fly out to center. Narveson struck out eight in his 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing three hits and walking two.
Kennedy worked out of a big jam in the top of the inning.He allowed a leadoff single to Craig Counsell, who advanced to third on a hit-and-run play with Ryan Braun. After Prince Fielder, struck out swinging, McGehee was walked intentionally to load the bases for catcher Gregg Zaun, who worked the count to 3-0. He swung at the next pitch and popped out to Snyder.
Jody Gerut, who hit for the cycle in the Brewers’ 17-3 win Saturday night, grounded out to first baseman Adam LaRoche to end the inning.
Narveson also was a pest at the plate. After a two-out triple off the center field wall by Corey Hart, he drilled a sharp single to right, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning as he collected his first RBI of the season.Fielder led off the second with his fourth home run of the season to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.
Santosamaru 