Please go away: Brewers 11, Phillies 3

The good news is that Ryan Braun will retire one day. The bad news is that thanks to modern “medicine,” careers can be extended, so that day may not come any time soon. Until then, we’re going to have to endure Braun’s annual visits to Citizens Bank Park where he decimates Phillies pitching.

Braun was 3-4 on the day (7-13 in the series), but he wasn’t alone in the battering of the Phillies’ pitching staff. Fellow Phillie-killer Yasmani Grandal had another big game, including a three-run home run in the seventh that turned a once-close contest into a laugher. And because he apparently felt left out of the fun over the previous three games, Christian Yelich got into the act as well with two home runs of his own.

Entering the game, the hope was that Zach Eflin would continue to pitch well and end the Phillies two-game losing streak. However, this wasn’t Eflin’s finest performance, giving up four runs in five innings. He was followed by four Phillies relievers who looked helpless against the Brewers’ relentless attack.

As for the Phillies’ offense, it started out well enough. Jean Segura hit a home run in the first, and they led 3-2 after three innings. But after Segura hit into a double play to end a scoring threat in the fifth, the Phillies’ batters were unable to keep up with the Brewers and went hitless through the final three innings.

Fortunately, this was the last game of the series, and the home fans won’t have to witness any more of this horror. However, the Phillies are scheduled for three games in Milwaukee later this month. Unless the pitching staff figures out a way to get Braun and company out, that could turn out to be a very unpleasant road trip.