Brewers beat Phils, 4-1

The Brewers rode another strong start from a non-ace to their second straight win, with Chase Anderson doing the honors tonight in Philadelphia. Anderson went 5 2/3 innings allowing 3 hits and 1 run, a fourth inning homer from Brewers tormentor Maikel Franco. I can now spell Franco's first name without looking it up...that's how well he's hit against the Brewers this year.

The Brewers scored a run in the second, but it could have been more. Jonathan Lucroy was thrown out at home on a double by Kirk Nieuwenhuis, but Aaron Hill salvaged a run by doubling in Nieuwenhuis.

Chris Carter broke a homer drought with a shot to left center in the top of the fourth to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead, before Franco halved it in the bottom half. The score stayed the same until the top of the ninth, when absurdly hot Jonathan Villar hit a two run shot, scoring Scooter Gennett ahead of him, for a 4-1 lead. This was Villar's first homerun as a left handed hitter this year.

Jeremy Jeffress pitched around a lead-off double in the 9th for his 14th save. Brewers reliever Will Smith made his season debut, taking over for Anderson in the 6th and allowing no runs, a hit, and a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. Welcome back Big Will! Tyler Thornburg pitched a perfect 8th with 2 strikeouts.

The Brewers improved to 25-29, and the Phils dropped to 26-28. The Phillies got a bit of credit for their hot start this season, but the Brewers have almost overtaken them in the standings. Tomorrow night the Brewers send Ace #1 Jimmy Nelson (5-3) against Vince Velasquez (5-2).