Brewers 5, Pirates 2
WASHINGTON — Two days after helping the Washington Nationals clinch, the Atlanta Braves kept the NL East champions from taking another step toward home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Freddie Freeman hit a three-run home run off Gio Gonzalez and Julio Teheran threw seven shutout innings as the Braves beat the Nationals 8-0 on Tuesday night. Gonzalez
and struck out eight but guaranteed his $12 million option for next season with his first out of the game as he reached 180 innings this season.
"Today might have been a little hangover for them, winning the division a couple of days ago," Freeman said. "I think they'll get back on the horse and give us a tougher next two days."
Gonzalez and manager Dusty Baker didn't want to call it a post-clinching letdown because it would take credit away from Atlanta, which came back to beat the Miami Marlins on Sunday to give the Nationals the division title .
"They didn't come in here to celebrate with us," said Gonzalez, who wasn't feeling well at the beginning of the game. "They came in here to do their job. As far as that, they were swinging the bat, they were patient when they needed to be, and they were swinging when they needed to be."
The Nationals lost for just the second time in eight games and were unable to further close the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball and home-field advantage in October.
Freeman was 3 for 5 and had a double to go along with his home run to center. Ozzie Albies went 3 for 5 with a home run, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
Teheran (11-11) allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked two.
"Julio's been pretty good here the last few times," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "He's got a lot of support. Been really good, really efficient. Stuff's been really good. He's reaching back and getting a little extra when he needs to."
MILWAUKEE — Eric Thames hit his 29th home run, Domingo Santana went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Brewers pulled within two games of the NL Centralleading Chicago Cubs who were playing the New York Mets.
Gerrit Cole (11-10) took his first loss in 10 road starts since the Atlanta Braves beat him 5-2 on May 22. He slipped to 8-1 away from PNC Park over that stretch after allowing five runs and seven hits in six innings. He tied his season-high with 10 strikeouts in his fifth start against Milwaukee this season. He beat Milwaukee 8-1 on June 19 at Miller Park, striking out a season-high 10 for the first time.
Manager Craig Counsell turned to the bullpen to protect the 5-2 lead. Jeremy Jeffress, Oliver Drake, Jared Hughes, Anthony Swarzak and Josh Hader each turned in a scoreless inning. Jeffress (3-0) was the pitcher of record. Corey Knebel pitched the ninth for his 35th save in 40 chances.
Santana's two-run double highlighted the Brewers' fourrun third.
With one out and the bases loaded, Ryan Braun hit into a fielder's choice. An intentional walk set up the force at any base, but Santana foiled the move with his first hit. Thames added the last run with a sharp liner to right that beat the shift. Santana failed to slide coming home on the play and was an easy out.
Thames drove an 0-2 pitch into the second deck in right, but the Pirates took the lead the next inning on Jody Mercer's run-scoring groundout and Jordan Luplow's bloop RBI single off lefty Brent Suter.
Suter allowed two runs and three hits in his third outing and second start of three innings since coming off the disabled list Aug. 31 with left rotator cuff strain. He went three in his previous start Sept. 3 and pitched an inning of scoreless relief Sept. 5 in Cincinnati.