Brewers Hang on to Sweep Rockies

Jun 22, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers stating pitcher Kyle Lohse (26) reacts on the mound during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Brewers looked to earn their first series sweep in Colorado since 2004 on Sunday when Kyle Lohse (8-2, 3.09 ERA) took on rookie Tyler Matzek (1-1, 3.75 ERA).

The Brewers never trailed in the game, but it wasn’t for lack of effort as the Rockies kept coming back. But when all was said and done the Brewers held on for a 6-5 win in another wild game.

Matzek put the Brewers down quickly in the top of the first inning. Charlie Blackmon opened the Rockies’ first inning with a bunt single. After a strike out by Stubbs and fly out by Tulowitzki, Blackmon stole second.

Blackmon was out by several steps, but his slide dislodged the ball from Segura’s glove and he was credited with a stolen base. Segura was shaken up on the play but stayed in the game.

Justin Morneau walked to put two on for the Rockies, but Corey Dickerson flew out to end the threat.

Carlos Gomez led off the second inning with a bunt single of his own before Aramis Ramirez crushed a two-run home run to give Milwaukee the early lead. Khris Davis followed with a single to keep the rally alive.

Mark Reynolds followed with a single of his own to make it four straight hits to open the second inning for the Crew. Segura followed with a walk to load the bases, still with nobody out.

Lohse bounced into a fielder’s choice double play to third. Culberson stepped on third, and fired to second to erase Reynolds and Segura, but Davis came in to score and Lohse reached first. Weeks popped out to end the frame with Milwaukee up 3-0.

Wilin Rosario led off the bottom of the second with a soft single to short. Josh Rutledge followed with a line out to Braun. Culberson singled up the middle to drive in Rosario and cut the lead to two runs.

Rutledge was out by several feet attempting to steal second, but for the second time Segura couldn’t hold on to the ball, and Rutledge advanced to third after the ball deflected off Segura’s glove.

Matzek bounced out to Segura for the second out of the inning. Blackmon flew out to right to end the inning.

Matzek put the Crew down in order in the top of the third inning.

Stubbs led off the bottom of the third with a single up the middle. He stole second, on their first real steal of the day. Tulowitzki struck out and Morneau popped out for the first two outs of the inning.

Dickerson drew a walk to put two on for Rosario who knocked a double to right-center to bring in both runs and tie the game at three. Rutledge followed with a walk to put two on for Culberson but he flew out to end the frame.

Matzek put the Brewers down one-two-three in the top of the fourth, including a beautiful diving catch by Rutledge on a bloop fly ball by Reynolds.

Lohse pitched his first three-up, three-down inning to end the fourth.

With two outs in the top of the fifth Weeks singled to give the Brewers some life after nine straight outs. Braun followed with a walk and both scored on a single to right by Lucroy.

Weeks and Braun were running on the play. Weeks came in to score, and Braun scored while Lucroy found himself in a run down.  Lucroy got thrown out at second to end the inning with Milwaukee up 5-3.

Tulowitzki and Morneau both singled in the bottom half of the frame for the Rockies, but they couldn’t muster more than that.

The Brewers threatened again in the sixth after a lead off walk by Gomez and a double by Ramirez to put two on. But Davis, Reynolds and Segura went down in order to leave two stranded.

Matzek came out after the Davis out and Rob Scahill pitched to Reynolds and Segura.  Matzek went 5 1/3 innings, he allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks, he struck out only two. He left the game in line for the loss.

Lohse didn’t go back out to the hill in the sixth for Milwaukee. He finished with 5 innings pitched and allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three. He left in line for the win.

The Rockies came right back in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Brandon Kintzler.  Culberson led off with a single, but was caught stealing. DJ LeMahieu followed with a single and moved to third on a Blackmon double.

But the Rockies couldn’t bring them home as Stubbs grounded out back to the mound and Tulowitzki flew out to Davis. It was Kintzler’s only inning of work, he allowed three hits but no runs.

Weeks reached on an error to open the seventh. He grounded to third and Culberson made a high throw that Morneau couldn’t handle to put Weeks at second base. Second base is where Weeks would stay, as Braun, Lucroy and Gomez all flew out to end the inning.

Zach Duke came on for the Crew in the seventh. He quickly put down Morneau and Dickerson before Rosario knocked a single to left, his third hit of the day. That would be it for Duke as Ron Roenicke summoned Rob Wooten to face pinch hitter Brandon Barnes.

On the first pitch from Wooten, Barnes popped out to Gomez to end the frame.

Nick Masset came out to pitch the eighth for Colorado. He got ground outs to third out of Ramirez and Davis before Reynolds singled to center. With Segura down 0-2, Reynolds stole second base. For the third straight inning the Brewers stranded a runner in scoring position as Segura bounced out to short.

The Brewers sent out Will Smith to hold the lead in the eighth. With one out LeMahieu singled to right. Two batters later Stubbs tripled off the wall in right to cut the lead to one run.

Smith intentionally walked Tulowitzki to get to Morneau who grounded out to end the inning with Milwaukee up 5-4.

The Rockies sent out Adam Ottavino to keep the game close in the Brewer half of the ninth inning. He didn’t do his job as Lyle Overbay, pinch-hitting for Smith, knocked his third home run of the season to lead off the inning.

Weeks followed with a single. Braun struck out and Lucroy bounced out, advancing Weeks to second. Gomez struck out to end the inning, stranding another runner in scoring position.

Fransisco Rodriguez came on to secure the save for Milwaukee. Dickerson led off the inning with a triple high off the wall in right field. Gomez’s throw to third got away from Ramirez, but Dickseron fell down on his way home and he got thrown out.

Rosario followed with his fourth hit of the game, a home run to straight away center field to cut the lead to 6-5. Rodriguez struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Wheeler, and got Culberson to bounce out to Reynolds to end the game.

Lohse picked up the win for Milwaukee. Smith and Rodriguez both gave up runs, which is somewhat unusual for the Brewers.

The Brewers return home for a three-game set with the Nationals that will see Gio Gonzalez (3-4, 4.85 ERA) take on Matt Garza (4-4, 4.02 ERA), Jordan Zimmermann (5-4, 2.95 ERA) face Yovani Gallardo (5-4, 3.34 ERA) and Stephen Strasburg (6-5, 3.24 ERA) face off with Marco Estrada (6-4, 5.22 ERA).