"After a memorable first season with the Milwaukee Brewers, Trevor Hoffman's second year is one he'd like to forget.

Having already lost his once-secure job as closer by blowing too many save chances, Hoffman found a different way to lose a game Tuesday night. And it was of small consolation that buzzard's luck played a role.

"It's just kind of the way things have been rolling," said Hoffman.

Victimized by two opposite-field doubles that barely stayed in play, Hoffman surrendered three runs in the seventh inning as Florida snapped a 3-3 tie and went on to a 6-4 victory at Sun Life Stadium.

It was the third consecutive loss for the Brewers, who have lost any momentum generated on their last home stand. The fact that it followed the pattern of so many other frustrating defeats this season made it no easier to take.

"Put that in the column of another one of those games where you were tied or ahead going into the seventh and wind up losing," said manager Ken Macha. "That's getting to be a big column."

Hoffman probably would not have been in the game in the seventh if not for a blister on the middle finger of starter Dave Bush. The blister formed during his previous start, and the Brewers weren't sure Bush would be able to take the mound, which is why Kameron Loe was summoned from Class AAA Nashville earlier in the day.

"We were very concerned about his start today," said Macha. "I asked him how he was doing after the sixth inning, and he said it was starting to get a little 'hot,' so we went to Trevor."

When a blister gets "hot," that often means it's ready to break open. Once that happens, it can jeopardize a pitcher's next start or two, so Macha didn't want to tempt fate even though Bush had thrown only 85 pitches.

"I was conscious about pushing it too far," said Bush. "You have to be up front with (Macha) about how you're doing."