Brewers 7, Diamondbacks 2: Five late runs against Arizona's top-ranked bullpen do the job

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

PHOENIX – The Milwaukee Brewers knew they had their work cut out for them on this daunting three-city trip, and thus far have been up to the task.

The Brewers made it four victories in five games Monday night by pulling away from NL West leader Arizona for a 7-2 victory in the series opener at Chase Field.

It was a 2-2 game entering the seventh but the Brewers scored five late runs against the Diamondbacks' bullpen, ranked first in the major leagues. Jonathan Villar, a late addition to the lineup when Ryan Braun was scratched, had three hits, including a home run, and scored three runs.

The Brewers scored twice in the second inning off tough lefty Patrick Corbin, thanks to some questionable decision-making by the Diamondbacks. With two down, Manny Piña doubled to left and stopped at third on Jonathan Villar’s single through the left side.

Corbin caught Villar breaking off first base and threw over, and Villar stopped to get caught in a rundown. But first baseman Paul Goldschmidt paid too much attention to the slow Piña at third and allowed Villar to make it safely to second instead of ending the inning.

With first base open and pitcher Junior Guerra on deck, the Diamondbacks opted to pitch to No. 8 hitter Orlando Arcía. Corbin hung a 3-2 curveball to him and Arcía banged a two-run double to left-center.

BOX SCORE: Brewers 7, Diamondbacks 2

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Guerra cruised through three hitless innings before the Diamondbacks got to him for two runs in the fourth to tie the game. Daniel Descalso led off with a four-pitch walk and Goldschmidt lined a single to right. After Descalso moved up on a flyout, Steven Souza yanked an RBI double into the left-field corner.

Ketel Marte drew a walk, setting up Nick Ahmed’s game-tying sacrifice fly to deep center.

The Brewers jumped back on top with two runs in the seventh, chasing Corbin in the process. It started with singles by Piña and Vilar, putting runners on the corners with no outs and bringing reliever Yoshihisa Hirano into the game.

Piña was out coming home on Arcía’s grounder to third but Christian Yelich delivered a pinch-hit, RBI single and Domingo Santana later added a sacrifice fly against Arizona’s vaunted bullpen.

The Brewers added three more runs in the ninth on a pair of home runs -- an opposite-field shot by Villar and Tyler Saladino's two-run, inside-the-park drive to center.

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

BRAUN SCRATCHED FROM LINEUP: Braun was scratched from the starting lineup with right mid-back tightness. Braun has experienced back issues before and after undergoing surgery following the 2015 season. He has been in a downward spiral at the plate, going 1-for-15 in the series in Colorado to see his batting average drop to .222 with a .268 OBP. In May, he is batting .121 (4 for 33) with no home runs and .167 OBP. Hernán Pérez moved from second to left, with Villar plugged in at second.

PINA STARTING TO SWING IT: After getting off to a terrible start at the plate, Piña has been swinging the bat better of late. He went 5-for-12 (.417) in Colorado, including a game-tying, two-run homer in the second game that allowed the Brewers to pull out an 11-10 victory in 10 innings. He kept it going with the second-inning double off Corbin. “He had a really good series in Colorado,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s getting to a better place with some consistent at-bats.”

KNEBEL GETTING BACK INTO IT: Corey Knebel, who was the Brewers’ closer before going on the DL for five weeks with a hamstring injury, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning Sunday in Colorado to close out the 7-3 victory. It was not a save situation. “We’ve all been encouraged by how Corey has come back and started to throw the baseball,” Counsell said. “I’ve stated this, and I’ll state it again, ultimately we’ll get Corey to the back (of the pen) for a majority of opportunities. He threw the ball outstanding (Sunday).”

THAMES MAKES APPEARANCE: First baseman Eric Thames, recovering from thumb surgery, dropped by Chase Field to visit with his teammates. Thames had a ruptured ligament in the thumb repaired and it remains ugly and swollen. He remains in the therapy phase of rehab until doctors give him the OK to resume baseball activities. Thames is expected back sometime in June.

NOD TO THE PITCHERS: The Diamondbacks tilted the playing field from the hitters to the pitchers this season by storing baseballs in a humidor, as they do at Coors Field, and also keeping the infield grass cut a little thicker. Arizona’s pitchers have benefited from those changes but the hitters, not so much. “I guess you could look at their team numbers and possibly say that,” Counsell said. “There’s been a lot of anecdotal stuff about people saying it’s playing differently. The new surface, the humidor for the balls. We’ll see. You can ask me Wednesday.”

RECORD

This year: 25-17

Last year: 24-18

COMING UP

Tuesday: Brewers at Diamondbacks, 8:40 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Jhoulys Chacín (3-1, 4.00) vs. Arizona RHP Zack Greinke (3-2, 3.70). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.