Walker contributes in post-trade debut
MILWAUKEE — When Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell found out the Brewers had traded for Neil Walker on Saturday, he immediately wanted to know whether he could get the veteran infielder into the lineup Sunday against Cincinnati.
After just 3 hours of sleep, Walker arrived in time to collect a pair of hits and score a run in his Milwaukee debut, helping the Brewers to a 7-4 victory over the Reds.
“It is easier, in my opinion, to get thrown in the fire and see how it goes,” Walker said. “I was happy to not be out of the lineup for two straight days.”
Domingo Santana hit a three-run homer for Milwaukee off Reds starter Sal Romano (2-5), and Ryan Braun had two hits and drove in a run.
Walker came over from the New York Mets and started at third base in place of the banged-up Travis Shaw.
“He played a position that he hasn’t played a ton this year and made some very nice plays,” Counsell said. “He handled it very professionally like he’s been over there. He had quality at-bats. It was a good spot today. We needed him with Travis being out.”
Brewers starter Matt Garza (6-6) allowed four runs — three of them earned — and five hits in 5 innings. He struck out two and walked five.
Adam Duvall hit a two-run homer for Cincinnati in the fourth inning.
The Reds’ Joey Votto went 0 for 3, ending his career-best 17-game hitting streak. He did draw a pair of walks to extend his run of reaching base at least twice to 18 games, the longest streak since Barry Bonds reached multiple times in 20 consecutive games in 2004.
Pitcher Robert Stephenson was activated from the disabled list and threw two hitless innings. He took the roster spot of reliever Austin Brice, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right lat strain suffered in Saturday night’s game.