Brewers 8, Orioles 1: Early offensive barrage backs strong spot start by Brent Suter

You know it’s a good day for your offense when a runner scores from first base on an infield hit, with no errors on the play.

That’s the way things went Monday afternoon for the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, who scored early and often to cruise to an 8-1 interleague victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Miller Park. 

The banner offensive showing made things easier on spot starter Brent Suter, who held the Orioles at bay with his best outing in the majors. Filling the spot vacated when Chase Anderson went on the disabled list with an oblique strain, Suter pitched six strong innings, allowing only four singles and an unearned run while logging a career-high eight strikeouts.

Suter became the first Brewers left-handed starter to earn a victory at home since Randy Wolf on July 17, 2012 against St. Louis, and the first southpaw to record eight whiffs since Tom Gorzelanny on July 7, 2013 against the Mets. Not bad as spot starts go.

“It was my first start at Miller Park," said Suter, who already is in his fifth stint this season with the Brewers. "A lot of emotions going on, a chance to pick up the team and I was very fortunate to be able to come through and go six innings today.

"It was a beautiful day, our hitters gave us a seven-run cushion early, so it was a dream come true.”

The Brewers’ day was epitomized by an adventurous and productive dash around the bases in the third inning by Orlando Arcia, who was on first base when Suter tapped a ball toward shortstop Ruben Tejada. Suter beat the throw to first, and when Arcia saw the Orioles leave third base uncovered, he rounded second and kept running.

Arcia beat third baseman Manny Machado to the bag but over-slid into foul territory. Seeing he had no chance to get back to third without being tagged, Arcia jumped up and headed home, getting in a rundown that included reliever Jimmy Yacabonis. When the Baltimore fielders got tangled up near the plate, Arcia scooted around and scored, giving the Brewers an 8-1 lead.

"I tried to go home because if I went back to the base, I was going to be out," Arcia said through translator Carlos Brizuela. "At that point, there's no going back. If they're going to tag me, might as well be at home, trying to score. I was super tired, so I was about to give up."

Suter, who advanced to second base on the play, marveled that Arcia was able to score.

"What a pickle. How he scored on that is incredible," Suter said. "Every day, he does something that’s like, 'Oh my goodness.' And he’s hitting the 'schnikes' out of the ball, so it’s great to see.”

BOX SCORE:Brewers 8, Orioles 1

NOTES:Michael Blazek summoned to join bullpen

RELATED:Q&A with pitcher Brent Suter

MLB: Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, schedules

Baltimore starter Wade Miley’s day was short on outs but long on pitches. It took him 67 pitches to record five outs, and in the interim, the Brewers scored seven runs – four in the first inning and three in the second.

Travis Shaw, Manny Piña and Arcia singled in runs, and Keon Broxton delivered another with a grounder as the Brewers batted around in the first inning. In the second, Jesús Aguilar drove a sacrifice fly to center and Piña ripped a two-run ground-rule double to left-center.

"We had a bunch of guys have good at-bats in a row," manager Craig Counsell said. "We made (Miley) work. We were disciplined; we didn't chase (pitches out of the strike zone). He was off a little bit and we kept making him work."

The big lead made it easier on Suter, who took advantage of shadows across the plate as well as pinpoint control to blow the ball past hitters with a fastball in the 85-87 mph range. Afterward, Counsell said Suter would get the ball in that spot in the rotation again Saturday in New York against the Yankees.

"Suter did his job, that's for sure," Counsell said. "He makes hitters uncomfortable. He was really good changing their eye levels constantly and changing speeds. He was outstanding."

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

* Shaw was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Miley in the second inning and was removed from the game. X-rays were negative and he escaped with a bruise. Shaw left the clubhouse after the game wearing a compression sleeve but said, "I'm fine. I'll play tomorrow."  

* Reliever Jared Hughes pitched a scoreless seventh inning and has allowed just one earned run over his last 13 appearances (12 1/3 innings). Since June 5, his 0.79 ERA entering play was second-lowest in the majors to San Francisco's George Kontos (0.61 ERA).

STAT SHEET

* Arcia continued his six-week batting surge with three hits in four at-bats, giving him a .424 batting average (28 for 66) over 19 games. Since May 18, he has raised his average from .208 to .295.

Arcia was going to right field almost exclusively earlier in the year but now is pulling balls to left as well, making him a more dangerous hitter.

“I would say he’s become a better hitter because he’s so comfortable hitting the ball the other way,” Counsell said. “I think he’s gotten better at picking his spots to look for a pitch to drive. He’s pulled the ball, but I still think it’s the opposite field that’s gotten him to this place.

“I just think he’s picking some spots, whether it’s count advantage, or he feels like the pitcher is pitching him in. That’s really a product of his experience as much as anything, just him making more educated guesses. He’s been hot, there’s no question. It’s been a pretty good run, for sure. It’s startling. It’s been fast, and he’s doing well.”

TAKEAWAY

The Brewers were worried about covering Anderson's spot in the rotation but it proved to be no trouble the first time around. The offense gave Suter lots of breathing room and he took care of things from his end. He deserves a lot of credit for being versatile and intelligent enough to make it work with a below-average fastball.

RECORD

This year: 45-40 (24-23 home; 21-17 away)

Last year: 38-47

ATTENDANCE

Monday: 36,457

2017 total: 1,354,477 (28,819 avg.)

Last year: 1,374,280 (29,240 avg.)

NEXT GAME

Tuesday: Brewers vs. Orioles, 3:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Jimmy Nelson (6-4, 3.43) vs. Baltimore RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 6.48). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.