Blue Jays 8, Brewers 4: Toronto uses long-ball barrage to sweep two-game series

Manager Craig Counsell warned beforehand that the Toronto Blue Jays were not the same struggling team the Milwaukee Brewers swept in a two-game road series in early April.

And he was right.

The Blue Jays returned the favor Wednesday afternoon by pummeling the Brewers with a long-ball barrage to win 8-4 at Miller Park and sweep the two-game interleague series.

By losing twice to Toronto within a 21-hour span, the first-place Brewers (25-21) have dropped three games in a row for the first time since St. Louis came to Miller Park in the third week of April and took the final three of a four-game series.

"The first time we faced them, they had some guys struggling," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "They pitched well. Their two starters pitched very well. (Marcus) Stroman is a tough customer."

It had the makings of a strong pitching day for the Brewers when starter Matt Garza put down the first nine hitters. But then the home runs started coming and didn’t stop. Leadoff hitter Kevin Pillar led off the fourth by banging a 0-1 slider out to left and two batters later Jose Bautista crushed a 2-0- fastball off the bottom of the scoreboard in center.

Already leading, 3-1, the Blue Jays blew open the game with two more homers in the sixth inning. Devon Travis led off by driving a 1-2 pitch from Garza out to center for only his third home run of the season.

BOX SCORE: Blue Jays 8, Brewers 4

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NOTES: Adjustment puts reliever Feliz back on track

Garza exited with two on and one out in favor of Oliver Drake, who walked Chris Coghlan to load the bases before serving up a grand slam to light-hitting infielder Ryan Goins that made it 8-1. Goins entered the series in a 1-for-26 drought and batting .191 for the season but collected four hits in the series, including two doubles and the slam, with five RBI.

"He had a good series," Counsell said. "The grand slam was in a spot where we're trying to get out of the inning and keep it close. They kind of put the nail in the coffin there."

Thanks to the grand slam, Garza was charged with six runs in 5 1/3 innings. By comparison, he had allowed only eight earned runs previously in five starts, covering 29 2/3 innings.

Garza had been particularly sharp in three previous starts in May, posting a 1-0 record and 1.89 earned run average. He had been the most consistent starter in the Brewers’ inconsistent starting rotation since returning from a season-opening stint on the DL with a groin strain.

"It was one of those days where it caught up to me at the end," Garza said. "I played with fire and tried to pitch up (in the zone) to these guys, and got burned. It was dumb on my part. You never want to leave guys on. You want to finish your inning. I couldn't get the ball down later in the game.

"They are a great team. But if you make your pitches and hit your spots, you can get them out, just like anybody else. I showed that in the first three innings. I don't have the (velocity) to go up top anymore. I got ahead of myself and lost a battle I usually win."

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

* Leftfielder Ryan Braun was out of the lineup for a scheduled day of rest as Counsell eases him back in off the DL. Braun played Sunday in Chicago, the team was off Monday and he played Tuesday against Toronto. He was 0 for 9 in those two games.

* Baseball can be a cruel game. Toronto outfielder Anthony Alford doubled as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning Tuesday night for his first major-league hit. He stayed in the game and struck out in the ninth, suffering a broken bone in his left wrist that landed him on the DL on Wednesday. The Blue Jays recalled outfielder Dwight Smith to replace him.

STAT SHEET

* The Brewers have been held without an extra-base hit just twice this season – May 2 at St. Louis and Tuesday night against the Blue Jays.

* Entering the game, the Brewers had turned 53 double plays, most in the National League and trailing only Texas (59) in the majors.

TAKEAWAY

Garza had been throwing the ball well so he was probably due for a rough one. But the Brewers need more consistent work out of their starting rotation if they want to continue their surprising play this season. The offense has carried the load all year but you need the pitchers to carry their weight at some point.

RECORD

This year: 25-21 (12-13 home; 13-8 away)

Last year: 20-26

ATTENDANCE

Wednesday: 26,607

2017 total: 706,910 (28,346 avg.)

Last year: 686,475 (28,276 avg.)

NEXT GAME

Thursday: Brewers vs. Diamondbacks, 7:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Zach Davies (5-2, 5.44) vs. Arizona LHP Robbie Ray (3-3, 3.91). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: 620-AM.