Brewers: Jonathan Lucroy keys surge in 7-4 win at Philadelphia
By Phil Watson
Jonathan Lucroy hasn’t looked like his All-Star self at the plate for much of the 2015 season, but he had the bat working Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Lucroy had his first four-hit game in almost two years, going 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI as the Milwaukee Brewers came back from an early 4-1 deficit to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4.
ALSO ON DAIRYLAND EXPRESS: Milwaukee’s Best: The Best Of The Braves, Brewers
His last four-hit game was on Aug. 20, 2013, at Seattle.
Jimmy Nelson (5-8) got himself straightened out after surrendering four runs in the first two innings, working the necessary five innings to get the win while allowing four runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
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 bullpen took it from there, with Neal Cotts and Michael Blazek teaming up to work the sixth inning before Jeremy Jeffress, Will Smith and Francisco Rodriguez each pitched a scoreless frame to close it out.
For Rodriguez, it was his 16th consecutive save conversion of the season.
The Brewers (30-48) got a run in the top of the first off Phillies starter Sean O’Sullivan (1-6). Lucroy laced a one-out single to right and, with two outs, Adam Lind yanked a double to right to score the run.
But Nelson struggled right out of the gate.
Ben Revere led off the game with a double to left and Lucroy threw away a bunt by Cesar Hernandez, allowing Revere to score.
Hernandez stole second and went to third on a wild pitch and after getting two outs, Nelson balked home the go-ahead run.
It didn’t get much better in the second as Nelson allowed a double to his opposite number, O’Sullivan, before Revere had an RBI groundout and Hernandez stroked an RBI single.
The Brewers caught a break in the third when Domonic Brown was called out at the plate after Cody Asche doubled to right. The Phillies (27-51) challenged that Lucroy blocked the plate, but the out was confirmed on replay.
That came after the Brewers scored in the top of the third. Lucroy grounded a one-out single to center, went to third on Ryan Braun’s hit and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lind.
Milwaukee climbed to within 4-3 in the fifth. Gerardo Parra led off with a double, moved up on Lucroy’s ground ball and scored when Braun laced a double to right.
The Brewers broke through in the sixth.
Scooter Gennett and Hernan Perez led off with back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners and Aramis Ramirez, batting for Nelson, doubled to center to drive in both, putting Milwaukee up 5-4.
Ramirez moved up to third on a ground ball and right-hander Justin De Fratus came on to replace O’Sullivan for Philadelphia.
Lucroy greeted him with a single to left, scoring Ramirez for a 6-4 Brewer edge.
In the bottom of the sixth, Lucroy was at it again, this time nailing Asche at second base on the back end of a strikeout-throw out double play to end the inning.
He has thrown out 10 of the last 19 runners to try to steal.
Milwaukee got some insurance in the eighth against De Fratus. Shane Peterson, batting for Jeffress, led off with a double, went to third on Parra’s sacrifice bunt and scored when Lucroy lined a single to right.
The Brewers tied a season-high with 16 hits. Braun was 3-for-5 and Parra, Gennett and Perez each had a pair of safeties.
Lucroy is hitting .279 since returning from a broken toe and has his average on the season up to .235.
Live Feed
Reviewing the Brew
“I’ve been battling, dude,” Lucroy told MLB.com. “It’s just been a battle. I’ve been lining out a lot. I looked at my numbers the other day and I calculated that if all of my lineouts would have fell, I would be hitting over .320. That’s just the way it goes. I know the power numbers aren’t there, but that will come.”
The series continues Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. Central, with Taylor Jungmann (2-1, 2.74 ERA) taking on ace Cole Hamels (5-6, 3.26).
Jungmann is making just his fifth big-league start and his first against Philadelphia. He took a no decision last time out, throwing five shutout innings and striking out five in a 2-0 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday.
Hamels is 7-3 in 12 career starts against Milwaukee, with a 3.71 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 80 innings. He last faced the Brewers on July 7, 2014, working 6.2 innings and allowing one earned run in a 3-2 victory at Miller Park.
He has lost his last three decisions, including getting roughed up for five runs in five innings in a 10-2 loss to the New York Yankees Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
Next: Braun, Lind Power Crew Past Twins