Junior Guerra's return provides Brewers with a bright spot

On a Friday night with plenty of bad to go around for the Milwaukee Brewers, Junior Guerra was a definite bright spot.

Making just his second start of the season and first since opening day, the right-hander delivered a solid 5 2/3 innings in an eventual 4-2, 10-inning loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Park.

Guerra allowed three hits, one run (earned) and three walks to go along with five strikeouts in a 98-pitch outing that saw him make only one big mistake – surrendering a fourth-inning home run to Jake Lamb.

"I thought Junior was outstanding," manager Craig Counsell said. "That was great to see. He stepped back in after a big layoff and did a phenomenal job.

"His sinker was really good tonight. His split, I thought, got him through the first time through the lineup and then the sinker was really good the rest of the night."

Guerra's 2017 got off to a rocky start just three innings into opening day on April 3, when he strained his right calf while attempting to drop down a bunt. Roughly seven long weeks of rehab that included two minor-league starts culminated in his return to the Miller Park mound on Friday with the Brewers seeking to end their season-high four-game losing streak.

GAME STORY: Bullpen gives up late runs

NOTES: Braun returns to disabled list

BOX SCORE: Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 2

MLB: Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, schedules

"It didn't really feel too much different," said Guerra through interpreter Carlos Brizuela. "Opening day was a great experience and today, after seven weeks, it felt good to be out there.

"I wasn't really thinking about comparing it or anything – just glad to be out there."

Guerra registered his first strikeout two batters in when he got David Peralta swinging on his signature pitch – the split-fingered fastball – and added two more punchouts in the second.

His most impressive strikeout came in the fourth, when he dispatched perennial Brewer killer Paul Goldschmidt on just four pitches – the fourth of which was well outside and low and Goldschmidt went fishing to try and reach.

One batter later, however, Lamb blasted a 2-1 slider way out to right field to give Arizona the 1-0 lead.

Guerra responded by pitching a scoreless fifth and after walking Yasmany Tomas with one out in the sixth, he finished out his night by striking out Drury.

"I had a couple walks, but other than that I felt pretty good," said Guerra, who finished just 1/3 of an inning shy of posting a quality start. "Hung one ball that was the home run, but other than I felt pretty good throughout the night.

"Even the warmups, I was feeling good. I felt like I could go a little longer but obviously my pitch count was a little high and that's part of it."

Guerra went 9-3 with a 2.81 earned-run average in 20 starts for the Brewers in 2016. He served as a stabilizing influence from the get-go after being recalled from Class AAA Colorado Springs and replacing Taylor Jungmann in the rotation a month into the season.

Can he provide a similar lift this year? The Brewers' starting rotation could certainly use a boost, as Chase Anderson, Zach Davies, Matt Garza and Jimmy Nelson have all struggled to consistently get deep into ballgames.  

"I would say the most important thing is I feel healthy and I think by me feeling healthy I can give the team a chance to win, help the rotation, the team itself," Guerra said. "Just go out there and have good games and give us a chance to win."