Broxton’s heroics lift Milwaukee over Cardinals

MILWAUKEE — Keon Broxton did a little bit of everything for the Brewers on Thursday.

Broxton drove in the go-ahead run and saved a run with a leaping catch, Matt Garza made a strong start in his return from the disabled list, and Milwaukee beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1.

Broxton, who robbed Jose Martinez of a homer in the second when he stretched his glove atop the center field wall, gave Milwaukee a 2-1 lead with a single in the fifth off reliever Brett Cecil (1-4).

"It was awesome to be able to come out today and do something good for the team," Broxton said. "I'm just trying to make plays. That's my job. It's huge for my confidence, it's huge for the team's confidence. It's a win-win situation for everyone."

Garza (5-5), making his first start since July 21 because of a right leg strain, gave up one earned run on four hits in 52/3 innings to give second-place Milwaukee its first home series win over St. Louis since July 2012. The Brewers, trying to stay close to first-place Chicago in the NL Central, won for just the fifth time in their last 17 games.

Kolten Wong missed a tying home run by a few feet when his drive to right-center bounced off the wall in the eighth. He was stranded at second when Anthony Swarzak retired Tommy Pham on a groundout and Matt Carpenter on a flyout.

Corey Knebel worked the ninth and struck out Greg Garcia with runners on first and second to earn his 20th save in 25 opportunities.

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha allowed one run on five hits in four innings. With the game tied at 1 in the fifth and runners on first and third, manager Mike Matheny pulled Wacha for pinch-hitter Luke Voit, who hit into an inning-ending double play.

"We have to take a shot, especially when you can see we weren't getting many opportunities up until that point," Matheny said. "He was averaging 20 pitches per inning, so he was only going one more inning. We had guys like Cecil that needed to pitch."

Wacha's only blemish was Jesus Aguilar's homer to left in the third. Aguilar's drive was his 11th this season, and he homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

Cecil retired the first two batters in the fifth but then gave up three consecutive singles. Broxton's hit drove in Travis Shaw, who went 2-for-4 after getting just two hits in his previous 19 at-bats.

Garza retired 12 of his first 13 batters to improve to 2-0 against St. Louis this season.

"I thought Matt was very efficient through four innings," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. DIAMONDBACKS 10, CUBS 8 Paul Goldschmidt hit his third long homer of the game to snap a ninth-inning tie, and Arizona pulled out a rain-delayed victory over Chicago. Goldschmidt drove a 3-2 pitch from Wade Davis (2-1) deep into the right-center bleachers with one out. J.D. Martinez followed with another solo drive off the All-Star closer. ROCKIES 5, METS 4 Nolan Arenado walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Colorado a win over New York. Charlie Blackmon and Mark Reynolds homered for the Rockies, who maintained a 51/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

INDIANS 5, YANKEES 1 Corey Kluber upstaged Sonny Gray’s debut for New York by pitching a three-hitter and leading the Cleveland Indians to a win over the sloppy Yankees. Kluber (9-3) struck out 11 and Cleveland’s ace threw his third complete game this season as the defending AL champions won the opener of a four-game series with a potential playoff opponent, ending their losing streak at three.

RANGERS 4, TWINS 1 Joey Gallo hit another massive homer, a three-run shot in the fourth inning that spurred the Texas Rangers on to a victory over the Minnesota Twins. A.J. Griffin (5-2) made his first start in more than two months, giving up one run on two hits over six innings in a resounding return from a muscle strain around his chest. He last started on May 26 and last won on May 9.

RAYS 5, ASTROS 3 Steven Souza Jr. homered and drove in three runs, Corey Dickerson added three hits and made a dazzling defensive play to preserve the lead, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Houston Astros. The Rays have won three in a row since dropping the series opener 14-7, and it’s the first time Houston has lost three in a row since June 11-13.