Wily Peralta Shuts Down the Giants as Brewers Take Series

Aug 7, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura (9) jumps over San Francisco Giants left fielder Michael Morse (38) to complete a double play in the fourth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Brewers came into Thursday’s game with the Giants hoping to get just their second series win since the beginning of July, an extended slump for a first-place team.

In that effort they sent Wily Peralta (13-6, 3.52 ERA) to take on Jake Peavy (1-11, 4.73 ERA) making just his third start for the Giants.

Peralta came into the game with the league lead in wins, and a win today would make him the first National League pitcher to get to 14 wins.

Peralta delivered, pitching into the seventh inning and allowing just run for the Crew, en route to a 3-1 win.

Things looked rough for Peralta in the first inning. Angel Pagan, back from a 44-game stint on the disabled list, led off with a single to center. He was erased at second on a fielder’s choice ground out by Hunter Pence.

Buster Posey followed with a single to put two on and after a Pablo Sandoval ground out, Peralta hit Michael Morse to load the bases, but he struck out Joe Panik to get out of the inning.

Carlos Gomez led off the Brewer half of the inning with a single, but was caught stealing for the first out of the inning.  Jonathan Lucroy followed with a single and Ryan Braun doubled to left to bring in Lucroy and give Milwaukee the early lead.

Neither team put a runner in scoring position until the bottom of the fourth. Aramis Ramirez led off with a single and moved to second on a Khris Davis walk, but they were left stranded for the Crew.

The Giants tied the game in the top of the fifth. Peavy whiffed to lead off the inning, but Lucroy couldn’t handle strike three and Peavy took first base.

Back-to-back singles by Pagan and Pence brought Peavy home and put two men on with nobody out. A Posey strike out and Sandoval double-play ground ball ended the inning.

Milwaukee answered back in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back doubles by Ramirez and Davis to take a 2-1 lead.  After a Rickie Weeks single, Davis came in to score on a Mark Reynolds sacrifice fly to make it 3-1 Milwaukee.

With two outs in the frame Bruce Bochy went to his bullpen and called for Juan Gutierrez to relieve Peavy. Gutierrez struck out Gomez to end the inning.

Peavy threw 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits and three walks. He struck out three.

Andrew Susac led off the top of the seventh with a single to center. Peralta struck out Travis Ishikawa and Pagan to get the first two outs of the inning before handing the ball to Jeremy Jeffress to face Pence. Pence flew out to Braun to end the inning.

Peralta tossed 6 2/3 innings, and allowed just one run on seven hits and one walk. He struck out a career high nine batters.

Jean Machi came on to pitch the seventh for the Giants. He quickly put down Lucroy, Braun and Ramirez.

Jeffress went back out for the eighth inning for the Crew. He struck out Posey to open the inning but walked Sandoval to put a man on. He came back to strike out Morse for the second out of the inning before giving way to Will Smith, who came on to face lefty Panik.

Panik knocked a single through the right side of the infield to put two on for Brandon Crawford. Smith struck him out to end the inning, stranding two runners.

Yusmerio Petit worked a perfect eighth inning for the Giants bullpen, going through Davis, Weeks and Reynolds.

Francisco Rodriguez came on to work the save for Milwaukee in the ninth. He got Susac to ground out to short, pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco to line out to Gomez in center, and lead-off hitter Pagan to fly out to Gerardo Parra in left to end the game.

Peralta earned the win for Milwaukee; it was his league-leading 14th win of the season. Peavy took his 12th consecutive loss this season; he has the worst run support in baseball. K-Rod earned his 34th save of the season.

The Brewers will stay home for the weekend and play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers.