Padres 6, Brewers 3: Milwaukee drops third straight as Wade Miley takes a shot off his knee

The high-powered Milwaukee Brewers offense that slugged its way past opponents last week has come back to earth in a hurry.

Hours after Christian Yelich was placed on the injured list with a low back strain, the Brewers mustered just six hits in a 6-3 loss to Dylan Cease and the San Diego Padres at American Family Field on Tuesday night.

"We're all under construction right now. But we're competing," said manager Pat Murphy. "When you're under construction, guys are a little uncertain and that's OK. Look at our lineup today – we had (four) rookies or guys maybe not even qualified, one-year status.

"It's awesome. I love who they are, and I love the way they compete."

Milwaukee, which has lost a season-high three straight, found itself in a 4-0 hole before even taking its first at-bat as San Diego teed off on starter Wade Miley.

BOX SCORE: Padres 6, Brewers 3

Manny Machado hit a line drive off the left-hander’s left knee four batters in and Miley appeared rattled and uncomfortable for the rest of his three-inning stint.

The Brewers finished 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left nine on for the game.

Offense awakens a bit in the seventh

With two outs it's Joey Wiemer of all people who starts a rally with his first hit of 2024, a single to left.

Sal Frelick and William Contreras follow with singles of their own – Contreras extending his hitting streak to 12 games in the process – and the Brewers get to within 6-2 while loading the bases.

That brought Gary Sánchez to the plate as the potential tying run, but Yuki Matsui struck him out on three pitches.

Then in the eighth, Frelick moved from left field to third – his first action there as a major-leaguer.

Milwaukee plated a final run in the ninth and with one on and two outs, Willy Adames flew out to end it.

Elvis Peguero next in line for some pain

Machado has it in for Milwaukee pitching.

After drilling Miley in the knee in the first inning, he next hit a shot off the side of Elvis Peguero's right knee in the seventh and ended up with a single for his efforts. Peguero remained in the game for another couple batters then was pulled for Jared Koenig for matchup purposes.

Machado also hit former Brewer Gus Varland in the hand with a line drive 366 days ago at Petco Park.

San Diego scored twice more in the seventh, pushing its advantage up to 6-1.

"It all looks a little messy when you have seven of your top 15 pitchers down. Seven of your top 15," said Murphy. "We have plenty more. It's just, they need seasoning, they need time. But when you have seven of 15 down, you're going to go through a stretch like this.

"You know what? This is the first series we've lost out of six series, and it won't be the last because we're brutally inexperienced. But we're competitive and sometimes, we're talented."

Wade Miley finished after three innings

A bunt by Ha-Seong Kim with one out in the third forced Miley off the mound quickly, and he made a nice backhanded toss over to first base for the out but looked uncomfortable doing so.

Murphy came out for a lively talk with the veteran on the mound and Miley was able to stay in and finish the frame, but that was it for him for the game as he departed having allowed four hits, four runs (three earned) and two walks with two strikeouts over 66 pitches.

"I think I had enough adrenaline I was OK," Miley said. "I think the only time it got me was on the bunt play. Starting and stopping was kind of tough. Don't hang sliders in the middle of the plate if you don't want to get hit."

Miley was asked about the possibility of making his next start.

"It's a little sore right now, probably a touch more tomorrow," he said. "I've just got to keep moving. The more I move, the better it feels. We'll see."

Abner Uribe, of all relievers, took Miley's place and he threw 1 ⅔ scoreless innings with Hoby Milner finishing off the fifth. Uribe allowed three hits, a walk and struck out two while also generating a double-play grounder.

"He needed to pitch today, and he needed to pitch multiple innings because of our situation," Murphy said.

Brewers couldn't have gotten off to a worse start

The first inning was an ugly and weird one for Miley and Milwaukee.

Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr. opened by singling, then Jurickson Profar reached on a bunt when Jake Bauers muffed Miley's attempt to shuttle the ball over to him at first.

Machado followed with a sharp grounder off Miley's knee that was clocked at 107.7 mph. The ball ricocheted to Jake Bauers for the out but Bogaerts scored as Miley fell to the ground. He eventually got back up and threw a couple pitches to make sure he felt good enough to stay in, then promptly gave up a three-run homer to Kim that hit off the foul pole in left.

All that took place in the span of Miley's first nine pitches.

"It couldn't have hit more perfectly on the kneecap," Miley said. "I got an X-ray; there's no fracture. I was kind of unsure – I was getting this burning sensation. But it's just the swelling that's causing the irritation. It's nothing too serious."

A bad throwing error by Joey Ortiz at third came next, followed by Miley seemingly picking the runner off first only to be called for a balk by home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez. Miley then rebounded by sandwiching strikeouts around a swinging bunt single to keep the damage to four runs.

The inning certainly mirrored the fifth inning Joe Ross muddled through in Monday's 7-3 loss.

The offense did get a run back in the bottom of the frame, as Adames drew a two-out walk and scored on a double to right by Bauers.

Brewers schedule

Brewers at vs. Padres, 12:10 p.m. Wednesday. Milwaukee RHP Bryse Wilson (1-0, 5.19) vs. San Diego RHP Michael King (2-0, 4.19). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.

Thursday, Off day.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Padres 6, Brewers 3: Milwaukee drops third straight game