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WP: R.A. Dickey (6-5)
LP: Matt Garza (3-4)
SV: Jim Johnson (15)
HR: Brandon Phillips (7)
Matt Garza had a good day. The rest of the Brewers offense...not so much.
The game started out with an interesting first inning. Keon Broxton singled to lead off the game, then, on a pickoff attempt at first base, the Braves took a while to decide to challenge or not. Nick Franklin said some stuff in response to this, and earned himself an ejection from second base umpire Jerry Meals. It’s one of the faster ejections in Brewers history, and left a thin bench even thinner. Overall, the Brewers would take advantage in the first inning, with Domingo Santana singling, Travis Shaw walking, and Hernan Perez grounding into a forceout to score a run and give the Brewers the early 1-0 lead.
Matt Garza then came out to pitch the first and gave it back. Three singles from Brandon Phillips, Matt Adams, and Tyler Flowers tied the game for the Braves at 1-1. After both offenses went down in order in the second, an Ender Inciarte singled followed by a Phillips home run put the Braves up 3-1.
After that, both pitchers settled in pretty well. Garza retired the last nine batters he faced, and Dickey retired 14 of his last 16 batters faced. Garza had a good day, allowing just three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks. However, Dickey was much better, pitching seven innings with just one run allowed, five hits, one walk, and six strikeouts.
In the bullpens, both sides locked down the offenses as well. Josh Hader worked around a walk for a scoreless inning, and Oliver Drake struck out the side in his inning of work. On the Braves side, Jose Ramirez, Sam Freeman, and Jim Johnson allowed just one walk and one hit while they struck out four to close out the game.
It wasn’t the Brewers day on offense. Keon Broxton was the lone Brewer to reach base multiple times. Jett Bandy had one of the rougher performances of the day, striking out three times. Hernan Perez drove in the one run the Brewers did get.
Hoping to avoid the sweep, the Brewers turn to Zach Davies in the series finale tomorrow afternoon. Opposing him will be Julio Teheran. First pitch is at 12:35 pm.