A disastrous fourth inning and Matt Waldron’s persistent struggles pushed the San Diego Padres to a 6-4 loss on the road in Milwaukee.
The San Diego Padres began a six-game road trip with a showdown against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Bradgley Rodriguez got the start again in the "opener" role with knuckleballer Matt Waldron being named the primary pitcher for the first game of the series.
In the end, the Brewers won 6-4, and Waldron struggled again in what could be his final start in a Padres uniform.
Rodriguez started well, going one scoreless inning to lower his ERA to 1.74. However, Waldron went just 2.2 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Waldron's ERA spiked to 9.28 and he earned his second loss of the season.
Joey Ortiz broke the scoreless tie with a home run in the third, but Milwaukee scored five in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Sal Frelick drove in two runs with a single, Ortiz had a sacrifice fly and Brice Turang drove in two with a double.
Nick Castellanos plated two with a two-run single in the top of the fourth inning, but the lead evaporated quickly for the Padres.
Wandy Peralta went 2.1 innings after that, giving up zero runs with just two hits and Yuki Matsui threw two scoreless innings with just one hit as the bullpen did its job after Waldron's exit.
Miguel Andujar hit a home run in the sixth and Andujar drove in Fernando Tatis Jr. in the eighth, but the fourth inning was the turning point for this game for both teams.
Craig Stammen switched the lineup again, putting Tatis at second with Andujar at DH and Castellanos in right field.
Ramon Laureano moved down to eighth, and his batting average is now down to .215 after a hitless day once again.
The big story is about Waldron, and with Lucas Giolito coming to town soon, it could be the end of the road for Waldron.
In five appearances, Waldron has given up six runs in three of them, and he has not made it past the fifth inning in any of them.
To go further, Waldron has allowed eight hits in three of five outings, so the Padres could release Waldron and make room for Giolito in the starting rotation.
Michael King will start for the Padres on Wednesday (3-2, 2.76 ERA) with Jacob Misiorowski (3-2, 2.45 ERA) toeing the rubber for the Brewers, and Griffin Canning will make the start Thursday for the Padres.