MILWAUKEE BREWERS- JOSH HADER GIVES UP TWO HOME RUNS IN NINTH INNING, ENDING RECORD-TYING SCORELESS APPEARANCES STREAK.
Hader’s streak of scoreless appearances, innings, and consecutive saves all came to an end Tuesday night.
Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader is as good as it gets when it comes to securing a win. But even the best in the game can have an off night.
Hader surrendered two home runs in the top of the ninth inning, blowing his first save since June 7, 2021, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Brewers 3-2 Tuesday night in Milwaukee.
Entering the game, Hader sat at 40 consecutive appearances of scoreless pitching, having not surrendered a run since last season. The 40 appearances without a run surrendered tied Ryan Pressly of the Houston Astros for the major league record.
With Milwaukee leading 2-1, Hader entered the game in the ninth having not surrendered a run in 19 appearances this year, throwing 17.2 innings of scoreless ball. That streak quickly came to an end.
Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm took Hader deep in the first at-bat of the inning, tying the game 2-2.
After getting second baseman Bryson Stott to fly out, Hader then gave up his second home run of the inning, a 416-foot shot to pinch-hitter Matt Vierling.
“They definitely got to me today,” Hader said. “Tip the cap. It definitely sucks, but it happens.”
Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters that he wished his squad could have given Hader more than just a one-run cushion heading into the ninth inning.
“Unfortunately, we could only give him a one-run lead going into that inning, and we paid a price for it,” Counsell said. “He’s been so good. It’s surprising, but at some point it’s going to happen.”
Hader’s blown save ended his streak of 32 straight saves, which was MLB’s longest active streak, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
“The scoreless streak, that was pretty cool,” Hader said. “I was hoping to get another one, but it’s baseball. It’ll keep you honest.”
The loss for Milwaukee is their fourth in a row, and the team’s sixth loss in the past seven games.
Philadelphia, who fired manager Joe Girardi on Friday, has now won five games in a row.
