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 But the Brewers have held their own against teams from the National
League East, and on Friday they made life miserable for the
defending division champion Washington Nationals.
Catcher Jonathan Lucroy had three hits and scored twice, and the
Brewers broke open the game with five runs in the seventh inning to
beat the struggling Nationals 10-3. Milwaukee is now 16-12 against
teams from the N.L. East -- their only winning record against any
division in the league.
First baseman Adam Lind had two hits and two runs, and starting
second baseman Elian Herrera added two hits for the Brewers (53-70)
as they battered Washington starter Gio Gonzalez.
"We had a nice night offensively," said Brewers manager Craig
Counsell. "Gio is a pretty good test and I thought we just swung the
bats really well."
Khris Davis, the Milwaukee left fielder, said facing a pennant
contender is good motivation.
"Definitely. It is just fun to compete," said Davis, who had one hit
and drove in a run. "None of us like losing. Nobody does."
The Nationals (60-61) lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Two of
Washington's long relievers Friday -- Doug Fister and Tanner Roark
-- were two of the team's best starters during a National League
East-winning season last year.
"It's just one game. That is why we play 162," Fister said. "Guys
are playing hard. We have not had it go our way yet."
The Brewers scored nearly every way possible in the seventh.
Pinch hitter Scooter Gennett and Herrera had bases-loaded singles to
drive in runs and make it 7-2.
The next run came on a catcher's interference call on Washington's
Jose Lobaton. Shortstop Jean Seguara hit a sacrifice fly to right,
with a second run scoring on the play when Bryce Harper's throw got
past Lobaton to make it 10-2.
Harper cut the margin to 5-2 with a solo homer in the sixth. It was
the 31st long ball of the year for the right fielder, who entered
the day leading the National League in home runs.
"It's a loss. We will come back tomorrow," said Harper, who has
carried the Nationals offensively this year. "We have an opportunity
this week (to get on a run)."
Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson (10-9) gave up five hits and two runs
in 5 1/3 innings. Right-hander Kyle Lohse pitched three innings of
one-run ball to earn his first save.
The loser was Gonzalez (9-6), who gave up five runs (four earned) on
eight hits in five innings. He has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) in
his past two starts.
Washington left fielder Michael A. Taylor hit a solo homer in the
seventh to make it 10-3.
Trea Turner made his major league debut for Washington when he
entered the game at shortstop during a double switch in the top of
the seventh. Turner went 0-for-2, including a game-ending groundout.
"You have to be ready for anything," Turner said of how he made his
debut. "The fans have been awesome. I wasn't that nervous."
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Said manager Matt Williams of Turner's debut on a double switch:
"It's not the ideal situation. He will have opportunities."
The Nationals grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a
bloop RBI single to left by Lobaton.
The Brewers scored two runs in the third off Gonzalez, who had
allowed two runs or less in eight of his previous nine starts.
Lucroy lined a double over the head of Nationals left fielder Jayson
Werth and right fielder Ryan Braun had a sacrifice fly to make it
2-1.
The Brewers scored three runs in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.
Davis, who had three homers during a recent homestand, had a
sacrifice fly to center to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead. The next
batter was center fielder Domingo Santana, who hit a two-run homer
to left after getting called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs
earlier in the day.
"That home run by Domingo was a really nice at-bat and it was a big
spot in the game to break it open a little bit," Counsell said.
Santana hit two homers earlier this year with Houston.
NOTES: The Nationals called up INF Trea Turner from Triple-A
Syracuse, where he was hitting .314 with 14 steals in 188 at-bats.
INF/OF Tyler Moore was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a
left ankle sprain. Manager Matt Williams said Moore stepped on a
ball in the batting cage Thursday and rolled the ankle. RHP Aaron
Barrett was also moved from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. ... The
Brewers called up OF Domingo Santana, who was hitting .380 in 20
games with Triple-A Colorado Springs. He was acquired in a trade
with Houston on July 30. He took the spot of RHP Tyler Cravy, who
went on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a right elbow
impingement. ... Brewers RHP Taylor Jungmann (7-4, 2.23 ERA) will
pitch Saturday in the second game of the series against Nationals
RHP Joe Ross (3-5, 3.86). ... Washington 3B Yunel Escobar left the
game in the top of the first after he was shaken up near the railing
while chasing a pop foul off the bat of Milwaukee 1B Adam Lind.
Escobar did not make the catch and came off the field on his own
power. Washington 2B Anthony Rendon moved to third and Danny
Espinosa entered the game to play second. Manager Matt Williams said
after the game Escobar had a hyperextended neck and is day-to-day.
... Brewers P Neal Cotts, who retired the one batter he faced in the
sixth, was traded after the game to the Minnesota Twins for a player
to be named later or cash.
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