After laboring his way through the first inning, Scott Kazmir was done after just four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in Thursday’s four-game series opener. Kazmir threw 27 pitches in the first, 30 in the third, and finished with 93 pitches thrown on the night.
He didn’t have an answer for why the first inning has been a trouble spot for him this season, but took responsibility for the loss as he left the Dodgers bullpen to pick up five innings. Casey Fien allowed three runs in the fifth; marking the first time he’d given up a run since joining the Dodgers.
Chris Hatcher tossed two scoreless frames, which was followed by Pedro Baez keeping the Brewers off the board in the eighth. Kenley Jansen began to warm up during the bottom of the eighth but with the Dodgers unable to break a 6-6 tie, Baez was sent back out for the ninth.
“After 14 pitches or whatever it was for Petey in the eighth, to send him back out there made sense,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Bottom of the order was coming up, he wasn’t stressed, and we wanted to stay away from (Joe) Blanton and (Louis) Coleman tonight.”
Baez gave up a two-run home run that proved to be the difference for the Brewers. Considering Blanton and Coleman were unavailable, Roberts’ other options were Jansen and lefties J.P. Howell and Adam Liberatore.
“Where we were at with our ‘pen, to have Petey go two and to get Kenley the last inning (if Dodgers tied) was our plan,” Roberts said. The home run was the sixth Baez has allowed in 30.1 innings pitched this season, but first since May 27; he went 8.1 innings between home runs.
While Baez has struggled at various points this season, Roberts has maintained confidence in the 28 year old. Thursday night wasn’t any different. “He’s dominated right-handed hitters and been great for us,” Roberts said.
