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 Gallardo (3-4) gave up home runs to left fielder Josh Willingham
and second baseman Brian Dozier as the Minnesota Twins earned a
series split with a 6-4 victory over the Brewers Tuesday night in
Milwaukee.
The Brewers' right-hander snapped a three-game losing streak while
recording his first victory since April 5 his last time out, but
struggled for the most part in the month of May, going 1-3 with a
5.79 ERA.
His struggles continued Tuesday, as he lasted just five innings
while giving up six runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out
five.
"The last three or four games (have been a struggle), but he's been
able to get by by making a big pitch when he needs to," Brewers
manager Ron Roenicke said. "He didn't do that today. They didn't
miss his mistakes."
The key hit was Willingham's three-run homer in the third inning
that broke a 1-1 tie.
Gallardo's offense didn't offer much help, either.
The Brewers had scored at least six runs in seven of their last
eight games but were stymied Tuesday by Twins right-hander Sam
Deduno (2-3) and the Twins' defense, which turned three
inning-ending double plays.
"We had chances to put some runs on the board and still be in the
ballgame," Roenicke said. "We had enough chances to be ahead in the
ballgame. We've been doing a pretty good job offensively, so that is
going to happen."
Gallardo himself hit into the biggest double play of the day in the
fourth.
With the Brewers trailing 4-2 after Milwaukee catcher Martin
Maldonado drove in left fielder Khris Davis in the fourth, the
Brewers loaded the bases against Deduno.
He fell behind 0-2 to Gallardo, who bounced a fastball to shortstop
Eduardo Escobar, who started a double play to end the inning.
"That's the kind of day it was," Gallardo said. "The one thing I
shouldn't do happened. Sure enough, I hit a groundball into a double
play. He throws a cutter. Basically every pitch is a cutter. It just
got in."
Minnesota made it a 6-2 game in the fifth on Dozier's team-leading
12th home run of the season before Gallardo struck out three in a
row, closing out his day.
"After giving up four runs, you have to keep it there," Gallardo
said. "You're not allowed to give up any more. I have to stop making
mistakes with guys on."
Milwaukee again put two on in the fifth, but center fielder Carlos
Gomez wiped out the threat by hitting into another double play.
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"You need those," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of the double
plays. "If you're going to walk people, you damn sure better get
ground balls and get double plays."
Right fielder Ryan Braun gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead in the first when
he hit into a fielder's choice that scored shortstop Jean Segura.
The Twins tied the game in the second when catcher Josmil Pinto
scored third baseman Trevor Plouffe with an RBI single.
After Gallardo gave up back-to-back one-out singles to Dozier and
first baseman Joe Mauer, left fielder Willingham broke the game open
with his fourth home run of the season -- a three-run shot to center
in the third inning.
Willingham, a .321 career hitter at Miller Park with seven home runs
and 21 RBIs, also extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's
9-for-22 during that stretch.
"Hopefully I can just keep being consistent," Willingham said.
"That's the goal. I don't know about pain, just getting it back more
than anything. I've always liked hitting here."
The Brewers added runs in the eighth and ninth, but Twins closer
Glen Perkins struck out Gomez to lock up his 15th save of the
season.
NOTES: The game was briefly delayed before the eighth inning while
medical and security staff tended to a fan who fell from a Miller
Park restaurant patio into the Brewers' bullpen. The team said the
man was conscious and alert and transferred to a local hospital for
further examination. ... Milwaukee optioned utility man Elian
Herrera to Triple-A Nashville after the game and plans to activate
3B Aramis Ramirez from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. ... With
rookie speedster Danny Santana leading off for Minnesota on Tuesday,
2B Brian Dozier batted in the No. 2 spot for fourth time this
season. ... Santana's second straight start also left OF Aaron Hicks
on Ron Gardenhire's bench for a second consecutive day. ... After
two games in Milwaukee, the interleague series resumes Wednesday at
Target Field for two more games.
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