Braves end Brewers’ win streak at 8
Braves rookie ends Crew’s winning streak
After hammering opposing pitchers for the duration of their just-completed seven-game road trip, the Milwaukee Brewers returned home only to be muted by a rookie making his fourth major-league appearance.
Matt Wisler, one of the key pieces in the Atlanta Braves’ early April trade of star closer Craig Kimbrel to the San Diego Padres, put together a strong 52⁄3-inning start to beat the Brewers, 5-3, on Monday night at Miller Park.
Wisler (3-1) allowed seven hits, three runs (earned) and a walk to go along with six strikeouts in helping to snap Milwaukee’s eight-game winning streak.
“I thought he pitched well,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Their bullpen did a nice job. We swung the bats OK. They made some nice plays.”
He was staked to a 4-1 lead after just two innings as Atlanta’s offense roughed up Brewers starter Kyle Lohse (5-10).
Four of Atlanta’s first five batters reached base against Lohse, with Kelly Johnson’s two-run homer to right staking the Braves to a quick 2-0 lead.
It was the 20th round-tripper allowed by Lohse in 981⁄3 innings, compared to 22 in 1981⁄3 a season ago.
Milwaukee wasted little time in answering, as Gerardo Parra led off the bottom of the first with a homer of his own into the Braves’ bullpen in rightcenter.
Early offense was the story on the Brewers’ road swing, with Milwaukee having scored in the first inning in six of those games.
For Parra, it was his second leadoff homer in four games, his third of the season and the eighth of his career as
“He (Kyle Lohse) struggled the first two innings, but he put up zeros for the next three and he kept us in the game, for sure.”
Craig Counsell
he continues to serve as a spark plug atop the Brewers’ lineup.
The struggles didn’t end in the first inning for Lohse, however.
The Braves racked up four more hits against him in the second to up their lead to 4-1, with an RBI double by Nick Markakis and an RBI single by Johnson being the biggest blows.
“He (Lohse) struggled the first two innings, but he put up zeros for the next three and he kept us in the game, for sure,” Counsell said. “He hasn’t been able to get on a roll, there’s no question. He hasn’t had that start where it all kind of comes together.”
The Brewers, who came in having averaged 14 hits per game on the road trip, managed just one base runner against Wisler after Parra’s homer until the fifth.
Jean Segura singled, stole second and scored on a twoout, pinch-hit single to left by Shane Peterson to cut the deficit to 4-2. Parra, up next, slapped a double down the leftfield line that Eury Perez misplayed but Peterson was an easy out at home after a strong relay throw by shortstop Andrelton Simmons.
Lohse, who allowed a season-high-tying 11 hits in five innings, was replaced by Corey Knebel — recalled earlier in the day from Class AAA Colorado Springs — in the sixth.
“I didn’t want to come out and put the team down like that,” said Lohse, who came in having won his previous two starts. “I came in feeling pretty strong, hitting spots and then a made a couple mistakes and gave up four runs quick. It was just gut it out through the last three innings.”
Knebel recorded the first two outs before surrendering a double, walk and then RBI single to Juan Uribe as the Braves extended their lead to 5-2.
Carlos Gomez, back in the lineup after being hit in the left wrist by a pitch on Saturday, singled in Scooter Gennett with two outs in the sixth to again pull Milwaukee within two.
Aramis Ramirez then drew a two-out walk, ending Wisler’s night. David Aardsma came on to retire Segura and end the threat.
Milwaukee got base runners on in the seventh and eighth but failed to cash them in each time. Jason Grilli pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to record his 23rd save.
The game was delayed for 9 minutes with two outs in the top of the eighth when Perez lined a foul ball over the Brewers’ dugout, striking a female fan. After some extensive medical attention the fan eventually was helped from her seat to an ovation from what remained of the 25,046 in attendance.
“That’s just awful,” Counsell said. “Our prayers go out to her. You just hate to see it.”