Brewers Down Rockies Behind Gomez, Braun

Jun 28, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Ryan Braun (8) and center fielder Carlos Gomez (27) collide while chasing ball hit by Colorado Rockies first baseman Ryan Wheeler (not pictured) that fell for a double in the seventh inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Brewers, having beaten the Rockies five straight, looked to secure a series win on Saturday when they took on the Rockies in the third game of their four-game weekend series.

In that effort the Crew sent out Matt Garza (4-5, 3.97 ERA) to take on Jhoulys Chacin (1-6, 4.81 ERA).

The Brewers made it six straight against Colorado and guaranteed themselves a series win on the backs of big hits by Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun to build a big early lead and hang on despite injuries and a Colorado rally.

Drew Stubbs singled with one out in the first off Garza but he was caught stealing by Jonathan Lucroy with Corey Dickerson at the plate to end the frame with no damage done.

Ryan Braun and Lucroy singled with one out for the Brewers in the bottom half of the frame to put two on for Carlos Gomez. Gomez didn’t waste any time and belted a three-run home run (13) to center to give Milwaukee the early lead.

Aramis Ramirez and Khris Davis followed with deep fly ball outs to end the inning with Milwaukee up 3-0.

Garza put the Rockies down in order in the second. Lyle Overbay led off the Brewer half of the second with a looping single to right. Jean Segura followed with a double-play ground out to Troy Tulowitzki. Chacin struck out Garza to end the inning.

Josh Rutledge led off the third inning with an infield hit that deflected off Garza. DJ LeMahieu lined out to Scooter Gennett at second for the first out and Gennett fired to first to double Rutledge off. Overbay botched the catch but tagged Rutledge out when he wandered away from the bag.

Rutledge was originally called safe, but the call was overturned on the replay appeal by Ron Roenicke. Chacin popped out to short to end the frame.  He worked around a Lucroy double to left for the only Brewer action in the bottom of the inning.

Both pitchers went through their halves of the fourth inning without allowing a base runner.

Garza rolled through the fifth, one-two-three as well. Segura led off the Brewer half of the fifth with a single to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Garza.

Segura moved to third on an infield single by Scooter Gennett. Braun followed with a triple (4) down the line in right to clear the bases, and increase the lead to 5-0.

Braun came in to score on a ground out to first by Lucroy. The inning ended with a Gomez ground out to third base.

With one out in the top of the sixth LeMahieu singled to center to end Garza’s streak of nine straight outs. Chacin followed with a single to left to put two on.

Blackmon followed with the Rockies’ third straight single to load the bases. He hit it back up the middle and it deflected off Garza, slowing it down enough that Segura couldn’t throw anybody out.

Stubbs followed with the Rockies fourth weakly hit single of the inning, a blooper between second and center to bring in LeMahieu and put the Rockies on the board.

They got their second run on a Tulowitzki sacrifice fly to Davis in left to make it 6-2. Garza struck out Dickerson to end the inning.

Ramirez came out swinging in the bottom of the frame and knocked a single. Davis followed with a ground rule double to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out.

Overbay followed with a single to left to bring in Ramirez and move Davis to third. Segura bounced back to the mound and Davis got caught in a run down for the first out of the inning.

Elian Herrera came in to run for Segura who left the game with leg cramps. Garza bunted back to the mound and Overbay was retired at third for the second out. Gennett drew a walk to load the bases and end the game for Chacin.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss called for Nick Masset to pitch to Braun. Braun grounded out to short to end the inning with the Brewers on top 7-2. The final line on Chacin was 5 2/3 innings pitched, allowing seven runs on 11 hits and one walk, he struck out four and left in line for the loss.

Rosario led off the seventh with a bloop single to center. It was the Rockies’ seventh single of the game, most of them weakly hit. Wheeler followed with a fly ball to right center, Braun couldn’t make the play on it and he and Gomez collided.

Gomez stayed down on the field for a few minutes before being replaced in center by Braun. Mark Reynolds took over right field. Wheeler was credited with a double to put runners at second and third, it was the Rockies first extra-base hit.

Rutledge popped out to Overbay in foul territory for the first out. LeMahieu singled to center to drive in Rosario and Wheeler and make it 7-4. Garza struck out pinch hitter Brandon Barnes for the second out of the inning, and Roenicke called for Zach Duke to pitch to Blackmon.

Duke struck out Blackmon to end the inning, with the Brewers up 7-4. The final line on Garza was 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out four.

Lucroy led off the bottom of the seventh with a single on new pitcher Franklin Morales, but was erased on a double-play ground out by Reynolds. Davis flew out to deep center to end the inning for the Crew.

Will Smith came on to pitch the eighth for Milwaukee. Stubb led off the inning with a double to left. Tulowitzki worked a seven pitch walk to put two on for Dickerson.

Smith struck Dickerson out on three pitches for the first out. He struck out Rosario on four pitches for the second out. Charlie Culberson came on to hit for Wheeler but he didn’t get a chance to do much as Toluwitzki got thrown out on the back-end of a double steal attempt for the third out. The out call was upheld upon replay.

After the inning the Rockies infield played musical chairs; Culberson stayed in the game at third, Rutledge moved from third to second and LeMahieu moved from second to first.

Davis struck out to lead off the bottom of the eighth with Morales still pitching for Colorado. Overbay struck out for the second out. Herrera knocked a single to left with two outs. Rickie Weeks came on to pinch hit for Will Smith and struck out.

Francisco Rodriguez came on to pick up the save for Milwaukee, and struck out Culberson to open the frame. He struck out Rutledge to cap a nine-pitch at-bat for the second out. LeMahieu lined out hard to Ramirez to end the game.

Garza earned the win for Milwaukee, Chacin picked up the loss for Colorado. K-Rod earned his 27th save, tying Francisco Cordero‘s franchise record for save before the All Star break.