CLEVELAND, Ohio — Milwaukee’s offense was held scoreless through its first two games this week, but the Brew Crew struck for seven late runs Wednesday against the Guardians’ bullpen and held on to hand Cleveland a 9-5 loss at Progressive Field.

The Guardians, who have shown their own ability to score late-inning runs in bunches this month, rallied for three on a José Ramírez home run in the eighth, but could not even the score as they dropped the series finale.

Ramírez launched his eighth home run, a majestic 420-foot shot to the bleachers in left off Brewers reliever Jared Koenig in the eighth inning to cut Milwaukee’s lead to two. It was Ramírez’s 123rd career home run playing for the Guardians at Progressive Field, moving him into sole possession of second place on the all-time list behind Hall of Famer Jim Thome (178).

In his last nine games, Ramírez is hitting .406 with four home runs, four doubles, seven RBI, four steals and a 1.294 OPS.

Rhys Hoskins homered, doubled twice and drove in five runs, while ex-Cleveland outfielder Jake Bauers added two hits, including a double and two RBI to lead Milwaukee.

Kyle Manzardo hit a solo home run and Nolan Jones collected an RBI on two hits for Cleveland, while starter Gavin Williams limited the Brewers to a pair of runs in five innings with six strikeouts.

But Williams surrendered a solo home run to Sal Frelick with two out in the fifth, and Jakob Junis allowed three consecutive hits including an RBI double by Hoskins and an RBI single to Bauers.

Junis hit Milwaukee’s No. 9 hitter Caleb Durbin with the bases loaded to force in another run as the Brewers pulled ahead by three. Hoskins blasted a two-run home run off Joey Cantillo in the seventh to give the Brewers a four-run advantage.

Umpires originally ruled that Hoskins’ drive had hit high off the wall in left field for a double, and the relay throw from Jones to Gabriel Arias to Austin Hedges beat a sliding William Contreras for the final out of the seventh.

But after a crew chief review, Hoskins circled the bases with his fifth homer of the season and the first of his career against Cleveland.

Hoskins added a two-out, two-run single in the ninth off Guardians reliever Zak Kent for his fourth career four-hit game.

After two days of laying dormant, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Milwaukee’s hitters did not back off, and Cleveland’s pitchers did not help themselves.

“We didn’t throw enough strikes,” Vogt said. “They took advantage. So tip your cap to them. It’s really hard to sweep in the big leagues. That’s a really good team over there. I thought our guys had a great home stand. I thought we played really well. Anytime you can win a series, it’s a big deal.”

Williams continued Cleveland’s trend of strong starting pitching on their six-game homestand, but failed to reach the sixth inning for the fourth straight outing.

Cleveland’s starting rotation posted a 1.13 ERA in 32 innings while limiting opposing hitters to a .184 average with 33 strikeouts on the homestand.

But Vogt said Brewers hitters were able to get Williams’ pitch count up Wednesday, and though the right-hander’s slider and cutter have been good, he continues to struggle with being able to repeat his good delivery.

“We’re seeing progress,” Vogt said. “The slider’s been a really good weapon for him. Just still continuing to find that consistency in the strike zone and the command.”

Bauers put Milwaukee in front with an RBI double off the wall in left center that bounced out of Jones’ glove as he made contact just below the scoreboard. Manzardo answered with his 10th homer in the bottom of the inning, a 395-foot drive to the seats in right center off Milwaukee starter Logan Henderson.

Manzardo finished the series 4 for 11 with two extra-base hits and three RBI. Carlos Santana, pinch-hitting for Manzardo in the eighth, drew his 1,300th career walk.

Henderson earned the win to move to 2-0, while Tim Herrin took the loss for Cleveland, dropping to 3-1. Trevor Megill pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.

Despite the setback, Vogt believes the Guardians are playing good baseball and pitching “really well.”

“Today wasn’t the case as much, but we’re throwing the ball well top to bottom,” Vogt said. “We’re going to continue to improve because we’re going to work. It’s who we are.”

With an unrelenting schedule ahead of them that features 13 consecutive games beginning Friday, Vogt knows consistency will be a tall order.

“We’re trending in the right direction,” he said. “We’ve had a crazy schedule. This has been a lot. Now here we go again, 13 in a row. Really going to enjoy the off day and get ready for the weekend.”

Next: The Guardians are off Thursday before opening a 10-game road trip with three weekend games in Cincinnati starting Friday. Right-hander Tanner Bibee (3-3, 3.80) will start for Cleveland while righty Brady Singer (4-2, 4.97) goes for the Reds. The game will air on CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM and the Guardians Radio Network.