Nelson uncharacteristically uneven vs. Phils

PHILADELPHIA — Jimmy Nelson’s first true dud of 2016 came against an unlikely opponent — a Phillies team which had scored three or fewer runs in seven straight games and had not beaten the Brewers at Citizens Bank Park since Yuniesky Betancourt was in Milwaukee’s starting lineup.

But the box score offered harsh evidence: Nelson pitched a season-low four innings, surrendered a season-high six earned runs, and by a variety of other measures, delivered his poorest start of what has been a fine season in Friday’s 6-3 loss.

“Last few outings have been a battle,” said Nelson after falling to 5-4 with a 3.43 ERA.

You couldn’t tell from his recent results, which added up to a 1.57 ERA over his previous four starts. Friday, however, was different.

That Nelson kept the Phillies at bay until consecutive three-run outbursts in the third and fourth innings was a credit to the Brewers’ corner outfielders. A first inning that began with Nelson walking leadoff man Odubel Herrera on four pitches ended with right fielder Domingo Santana throwing Herrera out at the plate. In the second inning, left fielder Ryan Braun took away an extra-base hit from Cody Asche …

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