WP: Matt Garza (3-4}; LP: Patrick Corbin (4-11); Save: None; Homeruns: Mil., Ryan Braun - 2 (18); Ariz., Wellington Castillo (12), Jean Segura (10)
It's always good if a marathon game goes in your favor, and that was the case tonight as the Brewers pulverized the D'Backs' pitching staff on the way to a 15 run, 19 hit attack - both season highs.
The Brewers drew first blood with two in the top of the first off of Patrick Corbin. Jonathan Villar led off with a single and Orlando Arcia drew his first walk of his MLB carrer. A wild pitch moved both runners up, and Ryan Braun drilled a line drive right at Michael Bourne in center, plating Villar. Arcia alertly advanced to third.
Hernan Perez’ fly to medium right brought home Arcia, who just beat a good throw from Yasmany Tomas. Better start than last night, when the Brewers wasted a third base, no out situation without scoring.
Matt Garza had his attem ball going in the bottom of the first, with two line-outs in his first three pitches. He then retired Paul Goldschmidt on a groundball to Scooter Gennett.
The Brewers continued their season-long issues with getting runners in scoring position home in innings two through four. They had eight left on base through four, so the lead stayed at 2-0 into the bottom of the fourth. Garza had allowed only a lead off single in the second to Jake Lamb, and in the bottom of the fourth he worked another perfect inning. Perhaps that waiver deal isn’t such a pipe dream after all...
The Brewers left the two more on in the top of the fifth, and Garza pitched around a one out error charged to Villar on a throw to first that looked like it should have been handled by Chris Carter.
The Brewers chased Corbin in the top of the sixth. Villar led off with his second double and third hit, and Arcia bunted to the right side to move him up - and his bunt was perfect, for a hit. The D’Backs brought in Evan Marshall to face Braun, and Ryan broke things open with his seventeenth homer, a three run shot to straight away center.
Perez added his third hit of the night, a double down the leftfield line on a full count. Chris Carter walked, and the real D’Back bullpen was back after the imposters that shut down the Brewers last night. Gennett hit it hard, but right at Jean Segura for a double play. Keon Broxton added HIS third hit, a single to left, and it was 6-0.
The D’Backs used a bit of luck to try to get back in the game in the bottom of the sixth. Gosselin’s pinch bloop double fell between Gennett, Arcia, and Broxton in center. The Brewers had Gosslin at second but Villar was late getting over to second to cover and lost the ball on the tag. The collision in center had Brewer fans holding their breath as Arcia came close to having his knee rolled up on
Maldonado dropped a foul pop by Segura for the Brewers’ second error, but Garza got Jean to ground to short. Bourne walked on a 3-2 pitch (Garza’s first walk), and Goldschmidt smoked a grounder into the hole that Arcia backhanded and got the force at second on Bourne. Gennett’s throw to first was late, and Bourne’s slide would have been ruled illegal earlier in the year for the third out, but now it’s OK.
Garza walked Lamb on four pitches, and only then did the Brewers get anybody up in the bullpen. The very dangerous Tomas came up, but his hard smash went right to Carter for the unassisted putout to end the inning.
Villar reached with a walk to lead off the seventh, his fourth time on base on the night. Villar has had four errors since he moved to third, but he has been absolutely red hot at the plate. Arcia added his second hit of the night on a groundball tipped by Lamb at third, and Villar raced to third. Braun lined his second three run homer in as many innings into the seats in right to push the lead to 9-0...a 7 RBI night, and boo silencer.
Garza gave up a two run homer to Wellington Castillo in the bottom of the seventh; one was unearned on Villar's second throwing error of the night. A walk one out later ended the night for the Count, but it was his best performance in over two seasons for the Brewers. Segura took Jhan Marinez' first pitch, a fastball right down the middle, to the seats in straight away center to cut the lead to 9-4.
The Brewers plated six more in the top of the ninth, Gennett drove in one with a sacrifice fly and Keon Broxton drove in another with his fifth hit of the night. Broxton came in hitting .170 and went back to the hotel with a .215 batting average. For the series he is 6 for 6 with a walk. Two came in on a bases loaded double from Andy Wilkins, and Villar had a two run single. The Brewers ended the night with season highs of 15 runs and 19 hits.
David Goforth finished the night with his usual performance, allowing two runs to actually worsen his ERA.
Tomorrow's game starts at 3:10. The Brewers (49-59) send Jimmy Nelson (6-10, 3.74) to the mound for the series win against the D;Backs' (44-66) Archie Bradley (4-7. 4.75).
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