Brewers' numbers against lefties belie record
MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers entered Tuesday's game first in the National League in runs scored (81) and second in batting average (.272) against left-handed pitching this season, but they still can't figure out how to beat southpaws.
With Monday's 10-2 loss to A's lefty Tommy Milone, the Brewers' record against left-handed starters dropped to 5-20, a statistic nobody seems to have an answer for.
"We should be better against lefties, because we have a lot of righties," Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez said after Monday night's game. "I can't explain that."
Milwaukee entered Tuesday with 81 runs scored against left-handed pitchers, best in the NL and fifth best in Major League Baseball, and it owned a .272 average against lefties, which is second in the NL behind only the Dodgers (.278) and seventh best overall.
The Brewers were also first in MLB with 188 hits, first in the NL with 78 RBIs and a .432 slugging percentage, and tied for second in the NL with 21 home runs, against left-handers.
"I don't know. I have no idea," Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "I feel pretty comfortable against left-handed pitchers, so I couldn't tell you. It's just a little funk I guess, it's hard to really explain."
The Brewers rallied off Oakland's lefty reliever Sean Doolittle in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 4-3, 10-inning win over the A's, as they got three straight hits off him without recording an out to tie the game.
The Brewers have run into some quality left-handed starters early this season, facing Cliff Lee, Derek Holland, Francisco Liriano, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershaw twice.
"[Milone] last night, he didn't make a lot of mistakes," Lucroy said. "Doesn't matter if he's righty or lefty, if the guy hits his spots consistently and stays down, you're not going to really do much against him anyway."
The Brewers will catch a break from lefties in the near future, as they are slated to face right-handers in 11 of their next 12 games against the A's, Phillies, Marlins and Reds.