|
 Lucroy's two-run homer with none out in the 13th snapped a tie
and fueled a four-run inning for the Brewers, who beat the New York
Mets 5-1 at Citi Field.
"It was a lot of fun to be a part of," said Lucroy, who homered on
the eve of his 28th birthday. "Although I wish we would have gotten
done a little earlier."
Impressive pitching by both the Brewers and the Mets turned a
seemingly quick game -- the first nine innings took just two hours
and 24 minutes -- into a marathon.
A quintet of Brewers pitchers -- including right-hander Kyle Lohse,
who allowed an unearned run over eight innings -- combined on a
six-hitter as Milwaukee (40-27) finished an eight-game road trip at
5-3 and increased its NL Central lead to 5 1/2 games over idle St.
Louis.
"I tried to get us out of there quick," Lohse said with a grin after
allowing four hits and walking none while striking out three. "But
their guy wasn't cooperating."
Right-hander Brandon Kintzler worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out
jam in the 11th before left-hander Zach Duke (4-0) and right-hander
Francisco Rodriguez tossed perfect frames in the 12th and 13th.
 "The way our guys threw tonight was awesome -- the bullpen came in
and shut it down, but it all started with 'Lohsy' just setting the
pace and the tone," Lucroy said.
Mets pitchers, led by left-hander Jonathon Niese (one run on six
hits and one walk with a season-high eight strikeouts over 7 2/3
innings) matched the Brewers for 12 innings. Four Mets relievers
retired 11 in a row between the eighth and 11th innings before
right-hander Carlos Torres escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the top
of the 12th.
Finally, the Brewers broke through in the 13th, when they sent 10
men to the plate. After right fielder Ryan Braun led off with an
infield single against Torres, Lucroy -- who was 0-for-5 with just
one ball hit to the outfield -- crushed a hanging curveball deep
into the left field seats.
The hit extended Lucroy's hitting streak to nine games. He is
hitting .336, second in the National League behind Colorado's Troy
Tulowitzki.
"You watch him all year and you know he's going to put good at-bats
together," Lohse said. "That was obviously real big at that moment.
That's why we love him over here and love the job he's doing. Calls
a great game too. So he's really putting it all together. It's
awesome to watch."
The Brewers added two more runs on an RBI single by first baseman
Mark Reynolds and a bases loaded hit by pitch drawn by second
baseman Richie Weeks.
"Took a long time to get some offense," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke
said with a grin. "But we had great pitching today."
[to top of second column] |
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-5 with a second-inning solo
homer. That looked as if it might be enough for Lohse when he needed
just 29 pitches to set down the first nine Mets, but New York tied
the game in the fourth when second baseman Daniel Murphy singled,
raced to third when centerfielder Carlos Gomez misplayed the ball
and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Bobby Abreu.
The Mets (29-37) stranded seven runners between the ninth and 11th
as they lost for the eighth time in nine games. Seven of those
losses have been by two runs or less.
"We haven't played well, I'm not making any excuse for that, but we
don't get blown out by anybody," Mets manager Terry Collins said.
"We just haven't been able to come up with a hit when we need a
hit."
NOTES: The 11th inning was an eventful one Thursday. In the top of
the inning, Mets RHP Jenrry Mejia exited with back spasms before
throwing a pitch. A few minutes later, a downpour drenched Citi
Field, which resulted in a three-minute rain delay. In the bottom of
the inning, Mets C Anthony Recker was tossed after he argued a
called third strike with home plate umpire Angel Hernandez. ... Mets
OF Curtis Granderson was out of the starting lineup with a sore
calf. He drew an intentional walk as a pinch-hitter in the 11th. ...
Injured Mets OF Eric Young began a rehab assignment at Class A St.
Lucie on Thursday. He went 1-for-4 with two runs. Young went on the
disabled list May 25 because of a right hamstring strain. ...
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said RHP Wily Peralta, who left the
team immediately after his start Wednesday night to tend to a family
matter in his native Dominican Republic, remains on schedule to
rejoin the team Sunday and pitch Monday in Arizona. ... Upon
returning home Friday, the Brewers will unveil their Wall of Honor
that will carry plaques of the inaugural class of 58 inductees.
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