Lauer 'felt good,' but cold bats doom Crew

MINNEAPOLIS -- Eric Lauer felt better than he had at any point since recovering COVID-19 when he faced the Twins on Friday.

Unfortunately, some poor control and Minnesota’s hitters making him work led to another short outing.

Lauer (4-5) overcame early trouble and threw 102 pitches, but he lasted just 4 2/3 innings in a 2-0 loss to the Twins in Friday’s series opener at Target Field.

"I think it was just a product of actually feeling like I had my legs back under me,” said Lauer, who also reached 96 mph on his fastball. “It felt like I had my timing back. And like I said, I just felt good, so I felt strong and I felt sturdy the whole time.

“But a couple issues with command a little bit and just battling some stuff kind of took me out of it a little earlier than I'd like to. But I definitely felt like I had enough gas and I felt like the pitch count really wasn't affecting me as much as it normally might.”

Lauer’s 102 pitches were the most he’d thrown in two seasons with Milwaukee. Lauer came from the Padres along with Luis Urías on Nov. 27, 2019, in the trade that sent Zach Davies and Trent Grisham to San Diego.

Lauer couldn’t get out of the fifth inning for the third straight start since coming back from COVID-19. He allowed two hits and walked two, while striking out six. The left-hander has surrendered three runs or less in his last nine appearances.

“Eric had the COVID issue, so we protected him a little bit the first time out,” manager Craig Counsell said. “But I thought his stuff responded well this time and he looked fresh. They did a nice job with some balls up, but he’s fully stretched out now. Unfortunately, they just made him work, so he didn’t get many outs with those 102 pitches.”

Josh Donaldson’s two-run homer in the first inning off Lauer was all Minnesota needed as the Brewers struggled against left-hander Andrew Albers, who was making his first Major League start since 2017.

Milwaukee managed just five hits while being shut out for the eighth time this season, despite being afforded the DH in the American League park. Shortstop Willy Adames missed his third straight game with a right quadriceps injury.

The offensive struggles came to a head in the eighth when Avisaíl García was ejected after arguing with home-plate umpire Brian Gorman. García struck out looking on a curveball that appeared high and out of the zone.

“It was a big spot and a missed call,” Counsell said. “Avi’s having a good at-bat; he got to 3-2 at that point and there’s frustration when you miss a call in a spot like that. He missed one badly in the ninth inning again against Lorenzo. I don’t think you expect umps to be perfect. But I think as you get to the bigger spots, you hope that we get real locked in for those spots.”

Lauer locked in when Minnesota had a chance to add on in the second.

After giving up two hits in the inning, Lauer walked Byron Buxton to load the bases. He recovered to strike out Jorge Polanco and Rob Refnsyder to end the threat.

“I think that was definitely a little bit of a turning point for me as far as really battling and just having the opportunity to feel like I worked through something there,” Lauer said. “I wasn't putting myself in a good spot and they put some good swings on some good pitches. I made some bad pitches, walked some guys. But overall I was happy with the way I battled and I was happy with the way I was throwing the ball today. So I don't like the result, but I think it's a step in the right direction."