PHILADELPHIA -- Fielding the Brewers' Game 2 5-2 loss to the Phillies on Thursday on a short hop.

In < 25 words ...
For the second consecutive game, the Brewers ran into a dominant starting pitcher and were unable to get anything going offensively.

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Frozen moment
Thursday's momentum permanently swung away from the Brewers when starter CC Sabathia surrendered a grand slam to Shane Victorino in the second inning, part of a five-run rally that proved to be the ace's downfall.

Big number
98 -- In his shortest outing since joining the Brewers in July -- 3 2/3 innings -- Sabathia threw a monstrous 51 pitches between the first and second innings and ended the night after throwing 98 pitches. It was the first time in the left-hander's career that he threw that many pitches in that short of an outing.

Game balls

Ryan Braun

The left fielder keyed the Brewers' offense in the first inning with a double that gave Milwaukee runners on second and third with one out. Braun also singled in the eighth.


Seth McClung

The reliever kept the Phillies off the board for two innings and held them to two hits.


J.J. Hardy

The shortstop doubled and scored a run in the seventh inning.

Sense of October
With the situation becoming ever more urgent in the seventh inning, Hardy gave the Brewers a leadoff double. He later scored, but the Brewers only plated that lone run in the inning against Brett Myers.


Braun
Lines of the Game
Hitting
Braun
4 AB, 2 H
Comment: Braun continues to produce consistently for the Brewers.

Sabathia
Pitching
Sabathia
3 2/3 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 4 BB, 5 Ks
Comment: The line says it all. Sabathia struggled early against the Phillies' potent lineup and was done in by Victorino's slam.

Spoken: "I think I had some opportunities to get out of some innings and get out of some at-bats when I needed to, and just didn't do it." --Sabathia

Next step
Though the odds may seem stacked against the Brewers -- trailing in the series, 0-2 -- they will return home Saturday to a rabid, postseason-hungry crowd at Miller Park.