Brewers 8, Giants 5: Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run double and Jonathan Lucroy added a two-run home run as Milwaukee avoided a three-game sweep by beating visiting San Francisco in the series finale.
The Brewers won for just the second time in eight games despite losing starting pitcher Marco Estrada to a right hip flexor injury in the first inning. Estrada pulled up lame while running out a two-run double in Milwaukee's six-run first and couldn't continue.
Five relievers were needed to finish the job for the Brewers, with Jose Veras (3-1) striking out three in two perfect innings to earn the win. John Axford struck out two in a perfect ninth for his seventh save.
Milwaukee scored all eight runs in the first two innings against Barry Zito (3-2), who gave up four earned runs on five hits and four walks over three innings.
Ramirez opened the scoring with a base-clearing double, Cesar Izturis added an RBI groundout and Estrada ripped a two-run double down the left-field line to cap the big first inning. Lucroy hit his two-run blast in the second.
The Giants got back into it on Hector Sanchez's three-run double in the third and added a pair of runs in the fourth on Brandon Crawford's RBI single and Melky Cabrera's RBI double.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cabrera has hit safely in seven straight games and leads the majors with 64 hits. … Milwaukee's Ryan Braun had his 11-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 day. … The Giants begin a four-game series at Miami on Thursday, while Milwaukee travels to face Arizona in a three-game set starting Friday. … Giants C Buster Posey, who had RBIs in six consecutive games entering the day, pinch hit in the eighth and drew a walk. … Giants OF Angel Pagan has hit safely in 32 of his last 34 games and 36 of 44 games this season.
San Francisco | Milwaukee | |
Barry Zito | Player | Marco Estrada |
Loss | W/L | No Decision |
3.0 | IP | 1.0 |
3 | Strikeouts | 2 |
5 | Hits | 0 |
12.00 | ERA | 0.00 |
San Francisco | Milwaukee | |
Joaquin Arias | Player | Jonathan Lucroy |
3 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 1 |
3 | TB | 6 |
.750 | Avg | .500 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
San Francisco | 9 | 0 | 11 | .243 | 16 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Milwaukee | 10 | 1 | 16 | .303 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 |