Axford can't save the Brewers

(Originally published July 17, 2012)

http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/common/more.php?m=49&post_id=7801

In a season full of excruciatingly painful losses, the Brewers’ debacle Monday night might have been the most gut-wrenching.


John Axford blew his sixth save of the season, coughing up a two-run lead in the ninth as St. Louis took a 3-2 victory in the opener of a three-game series at Miller Park.


Axford (2-6), walked two batters and loaded the bases before surrendering back-to-back hits to Matt Holliday and Alan Craig.


“It’s what I’ve been saying a lot with (Axford) this year, it’s his command,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “He’s not able to throw his fastball where he wants to. When he throws his breaking ball, it’s not a strike. And then he’s got to come back with fastballs, which aren’t located real well.”


Axford, who converted on all but two save opportunities in 2011, saw his ERA soar to 5.35 and left the mound to a chorus of boos as Kameron Loe entered to retire the side.


“All together, that’s the most frustrating outing I’ve had all year,” Axford said. “I’ve had a few blown saves this year, but that’s definitely the most frustrating one. Today, I just felt awful.”


Axford’s latest meltdown overshadowed another tremendous outing from Mike Fiers.


The rookie starter tossed a gem Monday night, something that Brewer fans have come to expect from the 26-year-old righty.


Fiers (3-3) scattered four hits over seven shutout innings, fanning four and walking four, doing more than enough to give the Brewers a chance to win.


“He was great again,” Roenicke said. “He’s got deception, he’s got speed changes that messes up the hitters and he throws up in the zone real well. He’s doing an unbelievablejob for us.”


Fiers lowered his ERA to 2.01 in eight starts since joining Milwaukee’s rotation as a replacement for injured Marco Estrada. He made his season debut May 29 in Los Angeles, where he surrendered just one run in seven innings.


Fiers has been a pleasant surprise during a season of much disappointment and frustration.


“I’ve had stretches in my baseball career where I’ve thrown multiple scoreless innings, but I’m just enjoying it right now,” Fiers said. “I’m just trying to put up zeroes and give our team a chance to win. That’s my whole philosophy here.”


Hot-hitting Corey Hart ended the scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh with a solo blast to straightaway center off Lance Lynn that hit the bottom of the scoreboard. It was the 17th homer for Hart, who is batting .341 for the month after posting a .247 mark in June.


Milwaukee padded Axford’s cushion in the eighth. Norichika Aoki drew a one-out walk off of Cardinals reliever Barret Browning. Two batters later, Ryan Braun delivered a double, allowing Aoki score from first and giving Milwaukee a 2-0 lead.


Axford, who has been plagued by control issues all year, encountered more of the same when took the mound in the ninth.


He walked Matt Carpenter to start the inning, but seemed to have recovered when he recorded two fly ball outs. Axford got St. Louis down to their last strike when Rafeal Furcal hit a hard chopper to third that was too hot for Aramis Ramirez to handle. Ramirez jumped back and tried to backhand the ball. Furcal was awarded a base hit.


“I don’t think (Aramis) is going to get (Furcal) even if he catches it,” Roenicke said. “Once you back off like that to try and get a good hop, I don’t think he’s going to get Furcal.”


Axford then walked Skip Schumaker to load the bases after getting St. Louis down to their last strike for a second time.


Matt Holliday, who extended his hitting streak to 15 games, came to the plate with runners at second and third and two out. He grounded a 3-2 pitch right between Hart and Rickie Weeks to plate a pair and tie the game.


Allen Craig then blooped one over the head of Cody Ransom at short to score Schumaker and give the Cardinals the lead. Axford left the game to a chorus of boos and Roenicke didn’t exactly give him a vote of confidence after the game.


“We talk about it all the time,” Roenicke responded when asked if there could be a change at closer. “We talked about it just now and we’ll talk again tomorrow. I think (Axford) has a lot going on upstairs. I don’t know what all the issues are.”


Axford downplayed the possibility of anything on the mental side hampering his play. The Brewers closer had St. Louis down to their last strike three times, but failed to deliver on each occasion.


“I know how important these games are, so that’s why this one is even more frustrating,” Axford said.