Matt Garza Bounces Back as Brewers Crush Mets to Win Fourth Straight

Jul 24, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Khris Davis (18) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off a three-game sweep of the struggling Cincinnati Reds, the Brewers opened a four-game series tonight against the New York Mets.

At 48-53 the Mets are in third place in the National League East, ahead of Miami and Philadelphia but nowhere close to Atlanta and Washington at the top of the division.

Tonight Matt Garza (6-7, 4.04 ERA) took on Dillon Gee (4-2, 2.92 ERA) with Garza looking for redemption after lasting just 1/3 of an inning in his last start.

Everything went according to plan for Milwaukee as they pounded out nine runs and Garza made a full 180 turnaround from his last start and the Brewers cruised to a 9-1 win.

Garza worked a perfect first inning that included a diving stop at third by Aramis Ramirez. The Brewers struck first when in the bottom half of the inning Jonathan Lucroy (12) knocked one-out home run to left.

Garza had another perfect inning in the second. Khris Davis earned a one-out walk in the bottom of the second; Mark Reynolds followed with a walk of his own to put two on.

Jean Segura followed by knocking a triple to the wall in right-center to bring in Reynolds and Davis and give the Brewers a 3-0 lead. After a Garza ground out, Gomez drove in Segura with a single to left.

Gomez stole second with Lucroy batting to move into scoring position. He came in to score on a Lucroy single through the hole on the right side of the infield. Braun bounced out to short to end the inning with Milwaukee on top 5-0.

Jul 24, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Khris Davis (18) celebrates with teammates Carlos Gomez (27) and Martin Maldonado (left) after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the sixth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets finally managed a base runner when Wilmer Flores led off the third with a single. He moved to second on a Gee sacrifice bunt but that is where he stayed.

The Brewers tacked on another run in the bottom half of the inning when Rickie Weeks and Davis had back-to-back doubles to make it 6-0.

Lucas Duda drew a two-out walk in the top of the fourth for the only action from the Mets. Dee finally had a clean inning in the bottom of the fourth, putting the Brewers down in order.

Both pitchers worked three-up, three-down innings in the fifth inning.

Garza cruised through the top of the sixth just as quickly. Daisuke Matsuzaka came on to pitch the bottom of the sixth for the Mets.

The final line on Gee was six runs on six hits and two walks in five innings of work. He struck out six Brewers and left in line for the loss.

Davis took Matsuzaka’s first pitch out to left-center to put Milwaukee up 7-0.

The Mets finally got on the board with a Lucas Duda home run (16) to straight away center with one out in the seventh to make it 7-1.

Gomez led off the bottom half of the frame with a single to left off Matsuzaka. After a line out by Lucroy, Ryan Braun absolutely crushed a home run (14) to the left-center to make it 9-1 Brewers.

In the eighth inning Elian Herrera took over for Aramis Ramirez at third, giving Rammy some time off. Garza had another one-two-three inning in the eighth.

Dana Eveland came on to pitch the eighth for the Mets. Matsuzaka went two innings and allowed three runs on three hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two.

Reynolds knocked a one-out double. He fell on his swing and looked like he twisted his ankle but stayed in the game. He moved to third on a Segura ground out.

Lyle Overbay came out to pinch-hit for Garza, ending the pitcher’s night after eight innings. He allowed just one run on two hits and one walk. He struck out four. Overbay struck out to end the inning.

Tom Gorzelanny came on to toss the ninth for Milwaukee. Logan Schafer replaced Gomez in center. Elian Herrera moved to right to give Braun some rest. Reynolds moved from first to third, and Overbay stayed in the game at first.

Gorzelanny worked around a walk to David Wright to close out a scoreless ninth inning and cap the Brewers fourth consecutive win.

Garza picked up the win for Milwaukee with a dominant start. Gee took the loss for the Mets on his worst start of the season.

The win gave the Brewers the best record in the National League despite the horrible start to July.

The series will continue tomorrow when Yovani Gallardo (5-5, 3.79 ERA) takes on Zack Wheeler (5-8, 3.78 ERA) at 7:10pm.