Gallardo Has a Rough Night as Twins Even Series

Jun 3, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo (49) walks back to the mound after giving up a 2-run homer to Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) in the fifth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Yovani Gallardo (3-3, 3.56 ERA) had his worst start of the season Tuesday as the Brewers played host to the Minnesota Twins in the second game of their four-game home-and-home series.

Gallardo lasted just five innings and dug a whole the Brewers couldn’t dig out of as they fell to the Twins 6-4.

Gallardo gave up a one-out single to Brian Dozier in the top of the first but he was erased on a nice pick-off throw by Martin Maldonado. Joe Mauer followed with a walk, but Gallardo escaped the inning unscathed.

The Brewers started quickly in the first against Twins starter Samuel Deduno (1-3, 3.86 ERA). Jean Segura and Scooter Gennett both singled before a Ryan Braun fielder’s choice grounder to Dozier at second. Dozier went to second for the out on Gennett at second, and Segura scored from third on the play to give Milwaukee the early 1-0 lead.

The Twins came right back and tied it up in the top of the second.  Trevor Plouffe singled to right, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Gallardo, and to third when Gennett couldn’t handle a pick-off throw.  Josmil Pinto followed with a single to bring in Plouffe.

After striking out Mark Reynolds, Deduno walked Lyle Overbay to give the Brewers a base runner in the second, but he was erased when Maldonado grounded into a double play.

The Twins broke the tie in the third inning. After one-out singles by Dozier and Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham popped his fourth home run of the season to give the Twins a 4-1 lead. Deduno allowed only a single to Segura in the Brewers half of the third inning.

Gallardo notched his first one-two-three inning of the game in the fourth, putting down Pinto, Eduardo Escobar and Deduno.

The Brewers chipped away at the lead in the bottom half of the frame. With one-out Khris Davis singled, and Reynolds and Overbay walked to load the bases. Maldonado singled sharply to left to drive in Davis and cut the lead to 4-2.  Gallardo followed by grounding into a double play to end the inning.

The Twins answered right back in the fifth. Danny Santana led off with a single before Dozier pounded the Twins’ second homer of the night and his 12th of the season to extend the lead to 6-2.

The Brewers threatened in the bottom half of the frame. With one out Gennett walked and Braun singled to put two on for the dangerous Carlos Gomez, but Gomez grounded into Milwaukee’s third inning-ending double play of the game.

Tyler Thornburg came in to relieve Gallardo in the sixth and put the Twins down in order.

Matt Guerrier came in for Deduno in the bottom of the frame. Davis walked to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a Reynolds ground out, but that is where he stayed after an Overbay strike out and Maldonado pop out.

Thornburg allowed only a two-out walk to Dozier in the seventh to keep the Brewers in striking distance. Thornburg went two innings for the Brewers, allowing just one walk while striking out one.

Logan Schafer pinch-hit for Thornburg to open the bottom of the seventh with Jared Burton replacing Guerrier for the Twins. Schafer drew a walk for the only Brewer action in the inning.

Brandon Kintzler came on to pitch the 8th for Milwaukee and quickly retired the Twins in order.

Gomez opened the Brewer half of the frame with a double (16) off the new Twins pitcher Casey Fien. Davis followed with an 11-pitch at-bat against Fien before a long fly ball to center, moving Gomez to third. Reynolds popped out to Mauer at first. Overbay followed with a two-out RBI single to bring Milwaukee within three. Maldonado popped out to Mauer to end the inning.

Francisco Rodriguez replaced Kintzler to toss the ninth for Milwaukee; he set the Twins down in order.

Twins closer Glen Perkins came on to pitch the ninth for Minnesota and promptly walked pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks and Segura to put two on for Jonathan Lucroy who was pinch hitting for Gennett.

Lucroy grounded out softly to second for the first out of the inning, but advanced Weeks and Segura a base. Weeks came in to score on a warning track fly ball by Braun to bring the Brewers within two, but that is where the rally would end as Perkins struck out Gomez to end the game.

Gallardo picked up the loss for Milwaukee, going five innings and allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out six. The bullpen on the other hand tossed four shutout innings, not allowing a hit and walking just one hitter.

Deduno earned the win, going five innings and giving up two runs on six hits and four walks while striking out two. Perkins earned the save, allowing a run with two walks and a strike out.

The teams will head to Minnesota for the next two games. Tomorrow features Ricky Nolasco (3-4, 5.52 ERA) taking on Marco Estrada (5-2, 4.26 ERA).