Bullpen falters late as Brewers drop series finale to Giants, 5-1

Box Score

The Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants played four close, competitive games in a playoff-type atmosphere out west, with the visiting Cream City Nine looking to complete the mop on Thursday afternoon. Things didn’t get off to a great start, though, as Austin Slater hit Eric Lauer’s first pitch of the game over the fence in center field to give San Fran a quick 1-0 lead.

Lauer settled in after that, however, and wound up locked in a pitcher’s duel with breakout starter Logan Webb. Lauer gave up only two more hits — a 3rd inning single to Slater, and a 6th inning single to Brandon Belt. He did issue one walk but struck out four while navigating his way through 7.0 complete innings on 90 pitches with just the one run allowed. The Brewers, meanwhile, didn’t get their first hit of the contest off Webb until a Luis Urias double in the fourth inning. Christian Yelich followed that with a walk, then Jace Peterson delivered with a two-out RBI knock to tie the game at 1-1.

That would be the only rally the Brewers would string together against Webb, who allowed four hits and one walk while striking out 10 batter during his 7.0 innings. In the 8th, Avisail Garcia was lifted with back and hamstring tightness and Devin Williams came on in relief, fresh off being named the NL Reliever of the Month. He faltered today, however. A pair of two out walks begat an RBI double by Darin Ruf, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead. The next batter, Thairo Estrada, pummeled a three-run homer to extend the lead to 5-1. That’s where the game would end, as Jake McGee shut the Brewers down in the final inning.

The Brewers come back home for a series against the Cardinals beginning on Friday at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Freddy Peralta will square off against Adam Wainwright in game one with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM central.