Brewers pitcher Jungmann struggles in 8-1 loss to Twins

By foxsports
Published

MILWAUKEE -- Taylor Jungmann's cross-body delivery can deceive hitters when the right-hander is comfortable with his mechanics.

His laborious, four-inning outing on Thursday served as an example of what can go wrong, too.

Jungmann (0-3) allowed a career-high six walks, along with four hits and three runs over four-plus innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers' hitters couldn't figure out Minnesota starter Ricky Nolasco's breaking pitches in an 8-1 loss to the Twins.

Minnesota never trailed after loading the bases in the top of the first and scoring two runs on Eddie Rosario's infield single and Eduardo Escobar's groundout.

Jungmann's ERA stands at 8.47 after losing his third straight decision. It could have been worse if the Twins hadn't left 10 men on base, including eight over the first five innings.

"Well, I mean he's got to throw strikes, and I think he's just really making it hard on himself," manager Craig Counsell said about his starter.

The unusual delivery can make it difficult for Jungmann to repeat when he does find a groove, Counsell said. Jungmann has allowed 15 earned runs over his last three starts.

"But I always say about a lot of these guys, your blessing is your curse sometimes. So, that's Taylor's blessing, that delivery makes him deceptive, and it also is the curse and it sometimes make it a little difficult to repeat your mechanics," Counsell said.

Nolasco struck out seven and allowed five hits over six-plus innings for the Twins, who snapped a season-opening, seven-game road losing streak by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 8-1 on Thursday.

Nolasco (1-0) allowed an RBI double to Ryan Braun in the first before settling down and retiring 16 of the next 18 Brewers hitters.

"Great curveball, great slider," Braun said. "For the most part, he was able to locate both pitches, wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted."

REMEMBERING PRINCE

The Twins will remember their win for reasons other than the game that ended their road losing streak.

Word of Prince's death in a studio compound in a Minneapolis suburb, filtered through the Miller Park press box just before the Thursday afternoon matinee. In the stands, one fan in box seats behind the Brewers clubhouse held up a picture -- hastily drawn on a large piece of cardboard -- of the symbol that Prince used on albums.

Back at Target Field, the Twins remembered Prince by lighting smaller video boards and ribbons with Prince's signature color purple. A picture on the Twins' Twitter account showed the larger outfield scoreboard with an image of the artist and a message that read "Good night sweet Prince. 1958-2016."

"He means a lot to a lot of people around the world, not just in Minnesota. I think we all listened to Purple Rain, we all saw the movie," manager Paul Molitor said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: OF Danny Santana, on the disabled list since April 9 with a strained right hamstring, will start a rehab assignment on Friday at Class-A Fort Myers. Molitor said Santana would play a game apiece in right, center and third base. ... C Kurt Suzuki felt some numbness in his face after getting hit by a foul ball on Wednesday night, but answered all the concussion protocol questions. Suzuki got the day off Thursday, with John Ryan Murphy starting behind the plate.

Brewers: Counsell said that LH reliever Will Smith (left knee) will start jogging soon, while RH pitchers Matt Garza (right lat) and Corey Knebel (left oblique) are all "progressing the right way." They started the season on the 15-day disabled list.

UP NEXT

Twins: Kyle Gibson (0-2) gets the start when Minnesota opens a three-game interleague series in Washington. It will be Gibson's first career start against the NL East-leading Nationals.

Brewers: Zach Davies (0-1) makes his second start of the season when Milwaukee opens a three-game set against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Davies got shelled on Sunday for six runs on eight hits in a 9-3 loss at Pittsburgh.