Milwaukee Brewers Win Third Straight; Beat White Sox 10-7

The Brewers stayed hot Monday night as they extended their winning streak to 3 games, defeating the White Sox 10-7. After an extremely rough and disappointing start to the season, the Brewers are turning things around and are now 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Wily Peralta had another solid start for the Brewers pitching staff, going 6 innings while surrendering just two runs.  He scattered 6 hits, while striking out 4 and walking 1.  He watched from the dugout as the bullpen squandered away his win, but saw his ERA drop to 3.80 for the season.

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White Sox starter, Jeff Samardzija, saw his career struggles against the Brewers continue as he was roughed up for 7 runs, 5 earned, in 6 innings of work.  He surrendered 8 hits and a walk, while recording 6 strikeouts.  Miller Park has been a rough place for Samardzija to pitch; coming into the game he was 0-3, with a 6.09 ERA in 12 appearances (5 starts).

Craig Counsell unveiled an interesting lineup for the Brewers to start the game, and it paid immediate dividends.  In the Brewers half of the first inning, leadoff hitter Gerardo Parra hit a single to right field, and promptly stole second base.  Two-hole hitter, Ryan Braun, reached on an error with Parra moving to 3rd base.  Adam Lind, batting third, hit an RBI fielder’s choice, forcing out Braun at second.  Cleanup hitter, Carlos Gomez, launched a two-run homer to center field, his second of the season, putting the Brewers ahead 3-0 after the first inning.

The Brewers added two more runs in the second inning, putting them ahead 5-0.  With two outs and Hector Gomez on second base, Parra ripped a double to center, scoring Gomez.  Braun came up next and singled to center field, scoring Parra.  In the Brewers half of the fourth, Elian Herrera opened the inning with a double to right and Hector Gomez followed with a double to left, pushing the Brewers lead to 6-0.

The White Sox finally got on the board in the top of the 5th.  Catcher Geovany Soto hit a two-run home run to center field, cutting the lead to 4.  The Brewers would answer right back in the bottom of the inning.  Leading off the inning, Carlos Gomez ripped a line drive down the right field line, and the excitement began.  Gomez raced into third base, with a triple, and then took off towards home plate as the throw into the infield was off target.  Gomez slid headfirst into home and was ruled safe, just ahead of Soto’s tag.  The White Sox challenged, but the call was upheld, and the Brewers were ahead 7-2.

The White Sox battled back in the top of the 7th, adding 3 more runs.  Adam Eaton had an RBI single to center, cutting the lead to 7-3.  Later in the inning, Jose Abreu hit a 2-RBI single to center, and the Brewers lead stood at just 2.

Jonathan Broxton was called upon to pitch the 8th for the Brewers and got into trouble immediately.  After a double and single to open the inning, Adam LaRoche hit a pinch-hit RBI single to right, cutting the lead to 7-6.  After getting the next 2 batters out, Eaton hit an RBI single to right, tying the game at 7.  Broxton was luckily able to escape the inning without further damage, as Carlos Gomez made an over the shoulder catch on the warning track, finally ending the inning.  Broxton has struggled mightily this season, as his ERA climbed to 7.82.

Elian Herrera came up with the hit of the night in the bottom of the 8th.  With Martin Maldonado on first base, Herrera launched a no-doubter into the bleachers in left, his third of the season, putting the Brewers back on top 9-7.  Khris Davis was called upon to pinch hit two batters later and absolutely demolished a pitch to left field, his third of the season, pushing the lead to 10-7.  Both homers were hit off of former Brewer, Zack Duke.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the 9th to record his 7th save of the season and the 355th of his career.  After allowing two runs in the 8th, Broxton was awarded the win, his first decision of the season.

The Brewers and White Sox will square off in the second game of the series on Tuesday night; first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm.  Mike Fiers (1-4, 5.46 ERA) will square off against Chris Sale (2-1, 5.93 ERA).

Schedule