Offense, pitching fails as Tribe routed by Brewers

PHOENIX: Nothing went right today for the Indians, who suffered an embarrassing 12-2 loss to the Brewers.

Milwaukee pitchers did not give up a hit until the seventh, when Cristian Guzman lined a two-out single to center off Manny Parra. The Tribe remained scoreless until the ninth, when Nick Weglarz and Matt LaPorta walked and Andy LaRoche ripped a two-out double to left to enable Cleveland to avoid the shutout.

""You have to tip your hat to the Brewers,'' manager Manny Acta said. ""But I'm not concerned about that. We've been swinging the bats pretty good.''

Derek Lowe started and was done-in by his lack of command, walking three and throwing a wild pitch. He was charged with three runs and four hits. And he was among the better Tribe pitchers.

""Derek probably threw the ball the best,'' Acta said. ""He got hurt by the walks. But he kept the ball on the ground for the most part.''

At least Lowe didn't give up any home runs. Dan Wheeler yielded a home run in the fourth on the first pitch he threw. On the third pitch, he allowed a double, giving up two runs in one inning. Chris Ray gave up one solo blast and a two-run shot in the fifth, and Zach McAllister allowed a homer with nobody on in the seventh.

""They hit us around pretty good,'' Acta said. ""It looked like the wind was blowing out for one team.''