DENVER _ After soldiering through a tough September schedule for three weeks, the rebuilding Milwaukee Brewers appear to have run out of steam a bit.
Unable to get big hits, the Brewers lost, 4-1, to the Colorado Rockies Friday night at Coors Field in the opener of the final series of the season.
It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Brewers, who must win their final two games to avoid 90 losses.
It wasn't that the Brewers had few scoring chances. They put enough runners on base to win the game but managed just one hit in 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position, making an out at the plate on that single.
Brewers starter Brent Suter, who had clicked off 12 consecutive scoreless relief outings since starting in his major-league debut in Seattle, found quick trouble in the first. Charlie Blackmon led off with a single, and after D.J. LeMahieu grounded into a force, Nolan Arenado blasted a home run to center for a 2-0 lead.
Entering the game, Arenado was the National League leader with 40 home runs, with the Brewers' Chris Carter and Chicago's Kris Bryant right behind with 39. Thus, Arenado got another leg up in going for the home run crown.
But Carter wasn't ceding anything to Arenado. Leading off the fourth inning, with the Rockies having boosted their lead to 4-0 off Suter, Carter sent a 449-foot blast to right-center for No. 40 off right-hander Chad Bettis.
Carter became only the sixth player in franchise history to hit 40 homers in a season, joining Richie Sexson (twice), Prince Fielder (twice), Ryan Braun, Gorman Thomas and Ben Oglivie. It is Carter's first 40-homer season.
The Brewers had lots of chances to score more runs against Bettis but couldn't get it done. After Carter's homer in the fourth, the Brewers went on to load the bases but the Rockies' decision to intentionally walk Martin Maldonado paid off when Suter struck out.
Carter led off the sixth with a double to left-center and held second as Arenado robbed Domingo Santana with a diving stab at third. Hernan Perez lined a single into left and third base coach Ed Sedar waved Carter home but he was an easy and costly out.
Orlando Arcia followed with a single and Maldonado walked for the third time (not intentionally this time) to load the bases, but Bettis caught pinch-hitter Josmil Pinto looking at a called third strike on the inside corner.
Jonathan Villar led off seventh with a single and moved to third on Scooter Gennett's bunt out and Ryan Braun's fl to right. Reliever Carlos Estevez replaced Bettis and struck out Carter to end that threat.
The Rockies did not score a run off the Brewers' bullpen after Suter left they had done enough damage by then to win the game.
