Brewers 7, Dodgers 2: A Game That Was Over Before It Started

You know, after Dan Haren was surprisingly decent his last two times out, you had to wonder when the other shoe was going to drop. That’s what happened today, as Haren lasted all of three innings, allowing six runs — only three earned, thanks to Adrian Gonzalez‘ error — and getting through exactly zero of them unscathed. The second batter of the game, Jonathan Lucroy, homered, and although Haren managed to strike out three in a row to end the first, that was the highlight of the day for Haren. Lucroy hit a bases-loaded double in the second, scoring three and making it 5-0, and that was basically the game right there. Carlos Frias gave up a solo homer to Carlos Gomez in the fourth, making it 7-0, and the rout was on.

Frias actually managed to get through four innings with just that one blemish, so good on him, though I doubt more than 11 people or so were watching at that point. Scott Van Slyke and Darwin Barney both doubled off of deposed Milwaukee starter Marco Estrada in the eighth to at least make sure it wasn’t a shutout, but that was just lipstick on a pig. Wily Peralta isn’t good, yet he managed five shutout innings. (Don’t blame Barney; he was the only Dodger with two hits.)

This game got so pointless and dumb that Andre Ethier actually logged some time at first base, because why not. Anyway, it’s been a tough few days, between three straight losses to the Brewers and a seemingly endless string of disabled list moves. For the first time in three weeks, the Dodgers have a day off tomorrow. I think we all need it. But before anyone gets too grim, do remember that this is still a first-place team.