Brewers: Ryan Braun, Adam Lind provide pop to close 4-2 homestand
By Phil Watson
It took almost three months, but the Milwaukee Brewers have won back-to-back series at Miller Park for the first time this season after Ryan Braun and Adam Lind hit late two-run homers and Francisco Rodriguez survived an eventful ninth inning Sunday for a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.
The Brewers (29-48) got seven outstanding innings from Mike Fiers, who took a no-decision for his efforts after allowing just a run on four hits with three walks, striking out four and lowering his ERA to 4.14.
ALSO ON DAIRYLAND EXPRESS: Milwaukee’s Best: The Best Of The Braves, Brewers
The Twins (40-35) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly Eduardo Escobar with the bases loaded.
Fiers appeared to be on the hook for a hard-luck loss as Minnesota left-hander Tommy Milone had been every bit as good, throwing six shutout innings, allowing two hits and three walks while fanning seven.
The Twins’ bullpen? Not so much.
More from Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers are making a bold bet with Jackson Chourio
- 5 Pitchers Milwaukee Brewers Should Trade For
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 trade packages the New York Mets could make for Corbin Burnes
- This former player will eventually manage the Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3 trade packages the Baltimore Orioles could offer for Corbin Burnes
The Brewers tied the game against right-hander Blaine Boyer in the seventh. Aramis Ramirez greeted Boyer with a double to right field, moved over to third on a terrific bunt by Hernan Perez and, after a ground out, pinch-hitter Gerardo Parra tied the game by lacing a single to left field.
Parra is now 7-for-13 this season as a pinch-hitter with three RBI.
After Will Smith (4-0) worked a scoreless top of the eighth, the Brewers brought out the big guns against right-hander Casey Fien (2-3).
Jonathan Lucroy worked a walk and Braun followed with a line shot over the wall in center field to give Milwaukee a 3-1 lead. After Carlos Gomez singled and stole second, Lind went opposite field for his 11th home run of the season and a 5-1 lead.
Braun’s home run was his team-leading 15th.
“There’s still three months of baseball left,” Braun told MLB.com. “I think we’ve gotten to a point where we need to get back to wanting to win, to feeling like we’re going to win, to showi9ng up and feeling like we have a legitimate chance to win.”
Lind’s homer became larger in the ninth, when Rodriguez came in to preserve a four-run lead—the sort of non-save situation in which he hasn’t always thrived.
This season, all five of the runs Rodriguez has allowed have come in non-save situations, where he has given up five runs in 13 innings and gone 0-2.
Rodriguez opened the ninth by walking Trevor Plouffe and surrendering Torri Hunter’s third home run of the weekend as Minnesota closed to within 5-3.
After two line drive outs, Shane Robinson and Danny Santana singled, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate, before Rodriguez struck out Brian Dozier to end it.
Live Feed
Reviewing the Brew
The Brewers head to Philadelphia for a four-game series with the Phillies (27-50)—marking the first time all season Milwaukee will play a team with a worse record.
Jimmy Nelson (4-8, 4.34 ERA) will take the mound for Monday’s opener at 6:05 p.m. Central. It will be his first career appearance against Philadelphia.
He was masterful in his last start allowing a run on two hits in eight innings in a 4-1 win over the New York Mets at Miller Park on Wednesday.
The Phillies will counter with right-hander Sean O’Sullivan (1-5, 5.34). He lost his only career start against the Brewers in 2013, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits in 6.1 innings of a 3-1 Brewers win at Miller Park on July 24, 2013, when he was with the San Diego Padres.
O’Sullivan was roughed up in his last start Tuesday, giving up six runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings while taking a no-decision in what turned into an 11-6 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Next: Lohse, Garza More Problem Than Solution At This Point