SF Giants obliterated by Brewers in 14-run blowout loss

MILWAUKEE — The Giants’ defensive configuration in the bottom of the eighth inning was the equivalent of a white flag.

The bench was emptied. Matt Chapman and Willy Adames had long been pulled. Buddy Kennedy, a position player, was pitching. Daniel Susac, who essentially had no experience in the field aside from catching, was playing third base.

Beginning with Landen Roupp enduring the worst start of his career, the Giants (23-37) were obliterated by the Milwaukee Brewers 16-2 on Monday night at American Family Field, the 14-run margin of defeat being their worst loss of the season.

“I’m a coach of the players, a manager of the team, but I’m a fan of the players, too. I just want to see them do well,” said manager Tony Vitello. “We’ve added meetings before the game. We’re talking in the dugout. We’re just trying to do anything we can to put our guys in a position to succeed or just make sure we’re doing our job. … Just trying to do the best to have the old Navy SEAL or army approach, however you want. Whatever the next task is, try and manage it.”

The blowout began early as Roupp allowed a career-high eight earned runs over four frames, seven of which were surrendered in the second inning. Roupp’s night, though, comes with a caveat because the righty was hampered by back discomfort. Roupp said the discomfort started before the game but didn’t mention the ailment until after his outing.

“Just kind of felt a little discomfort. I don’t really have much more to say other than that,” said Roupp, whose ERA ballooned from 3.30 to 4.22. “But it’s no excuse. I didn’t compete well tonight. Just got to be better all around. The guys put up two early, and I kind of just slapped them in the face. Not feeling good about that.”

Roupp missed three months with a back injury in 2023, but the right-hander described the ailment he felt on Monday as “definitely less serious.”

“When I got hurt in 2023, it was pretty bad,” Roupp said. “I think I’ll be fine.”

Roupp’s disastrous second inning began by issuing a leadoff walk to Milwaukee’s Jake Bauers on a payoff pitch that was originally called a strike. The right-hander froze Bauer with a curveball just below the zone that home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus called strike three, but Bauer successfully challenged to draw a leadoff walk.

From there, Roupp’s start went downhill fast. Roupp induced a fly out following the walk, but proceeded to allow a double, a single, another single, another double, a triple and a sacrifice fly. By inning’s end, the Giants trailed 7-2 and were on their way to their worst loss of the season.

“Obviously, the first inning was good, but I think it just built up as the pitch count built up,” Vitello said. “He gives up a run in the fourth, so it’s not the best inning, but he did what he definitely needed to do for us in order to get four innings. Would like to make some pitches better in the second inning, but in general, something he was battling. Kind of a difficult combo.”

With the Giants trailing by 10 runs entering the bottom of the eighth, Vitello not only had Kennedy pitch but also inserted Susac at third base. Before Monday, Susac’s only other experience in the field aside from catching was one game at first base in 2024. The Brewers poured it on during Kennedy’s first career pitching appearance, scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth.

“To be honest with you, it was a scramble in the dugout to figure out how we were going to finish the game in general with the pitchers,” said manager Tony Vitello. “Once it became obvious we needed to use a position player, Buddy kind of jumped on the grenade there for us. Susac, last guy off the bench. Not that he can’t handle himself over there, but more times than not, you deal with pop-ups and fly balls when you’re in that situation.”

One of the few positives from Monday’s blowout loss was that third baseman Matt Chapman hit his first home run since March 31, a two-run shot that the Brewers’ Jackson Chourio almost robbed.

Chapman’s second home run of the season ended a 53-game homerless streak for Chapman, the longest drought of his career. The previous longest drought of his career was 32 games in 2021, a season where he still managed to hit 27 homers.

“I’m gonna say that’s probably the longest I’ve ever gone,” Chapman said. “I don’t even know how many games it’s been. Probably 40-something would be my guess. I’ve been feeling like my at-bats have been better lately.

“The numbers might not show it, but swinging at the right pitches, hitting some balls hard, taking good at-bats. Then, was able to hit a good fastball today and drive it out to right-center. When I’m going good, I’m able to drive the ball to all parts of the field. So, being able to hit something out there definitely was a good sign I was able to execute that.”

Up next

Former Giant Kyle Harrison, who has a 1.57 ERA over 10 starts for the Brewers, will take the mound for his first start against his former team. Right-hander Trevor McDonald (2-2, 4.34 ERA) will have the starting assignment for San Francisco.