High View: Miller Park catwalk
Take a climb up to the Milwaukee Brewers’ Miller Park catwalk.
Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
CLEVELAND — William Contreras reached second base and lifted his hands to the sky. He had finally broken a drought, and his team was not far away from doing the same.
In slugging a double with one out in the sixth inning, Contreras had at long last broken a spell of more than a month without a two-bagger.
And in winning, 9-5, over the Cleveland Guardians on the May 14 afternoon, the Milwaukee Brewers responded to the consecutive shutouts that prompted a closed-door team meeting with their best offensive output in more than three weeks.
More: Box score | MLB standings
Rhys Hoskins reached base in all five plate appearances and drove in five runs, including an important two-run home run in the seventh and a two-run double in the ninth to pad the lead.
Logan Henderson, meanwhile, became just the second pitcher in Brewers history to win each of his first two MLB outings as he delivered five innings of two-run ball and seven strikeouts.
The nine runs were the most Milwaukee has scored since an 11-3 win at San Francisco on April 22, and it improved to 21-23 while capping a 2-4 road trip.
José RamÃrez made things interesting
Nothing easy for the Brewers, even on a day where the offense finally arose from its slumber. A pair of singles, including an infield knock with two outs, brought José RamÃrez to the plate with two outs in the eighth and the Guardians slugger did what he does: Mash a 96.3 mph sinker from Jared Koenig at the top of the zone 420 feet to left-center for a three-run homer.
The blast, RamÃrez’s second in as many days, brought Cleveland within two runs at 7-5.
Rhys Hoskins stays hot
It’s been an extended struggle for most of the Brewers lineup, but not for Hoskins, who followed his go-ahead hit in the sixth with a two-run homer to left an inning later.
The ball was originally called a double live and William Contreras was thrown out at home plate for what would’ve been the inning’s third out. But a quick review showed the ball clearly hit the black railing above the yellow padding atop the 19-foot tall fence in left for a home run.
Brewers take lead in sixth against an old friend
It was an inauspicious opening to the sixth inning for the Brewers as Christian Yelich struck out swinging against lefty reliever Tim Herrin. Soon, however, the floodgates opened.
William Contreras doubled and Brice Turang walked, prompting the Guardians to bring in right-hander Jakob Junis, a member of the Brewers last season, and Milwaukee ultimately batted around in the inning.
Rhys Hoskins lined a go-ahead double to the corner in left and Jake Bauers followed by lacing a changeup down in the zone for another RBI knock. After Isaac Collins bunted for a hit to load the bases, Caleb Durbin was hit by a sinker to drive home another run and make it 5-2, Milwaukee.
Sal Frelick cranks second homer of the year
After a few innings of some hard-hit bad luck, the Brewers’ fortunes turned on a Sal Frelick swing leading off the fifth. Frelick took a 2-2 four-seam fastball from Guardians starter Gavin Williams and sent it 382 feet to right-center, just over the leap of Nolan Jones.
It would have been a home run in one park in MLB: Progressive Field. Quite convenient for Frelick and the Brewers.
Guardians jump ahead in fourth
Back to a deficit for the Brewers, as Jose Ramirez led off the bottom of the fourth and came around to score on a two-out single by Nolan Jones. It was Henderson’s first at-bat against with a runner in scoring position and Jones blooped a 1-0 fastball in front of Jake Bauers in left to make it 2-1, Cleveland.
Brewers break scoreless streak but lead doesn’t last long
Coming into the day, Milwaukee’s last run came in the eighth inning May 11. That finally changed when Jake Bauers doubled home William Contreras with one out in the second inning, snapping 20 consecutive scoreless innings. The Brewers were actually a bit unlucky during the inning, too; Bauers’ double would have been a homer in seven other parks, and Caleb Durbin’s loud flyout to the wall in right to end the inning missed being a homer by about five feet.
The Guardians responded with a Kyle Manzardo home run to lead off the bottom of the second against Logan Henderson, who’s struck out four through two innings.
What time is the Brewers game today?
Time: 12:10 p.m.
What channel is the Brewers game on today?
TV channel: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin
Brewers lineupSal Frelick RFJackson Chourio CFChristian Yelich DHWilliam Contreras CBrice Turang 2BRhys Hoskins 1BJake Bauers LFAndruw Monasterio SSCaleb Durbin 3BGuardians lineupSteven Kwan LFDaniel Schneemann 3BJose Ramirez DHKyle Manzardo 1BGabriel Arias SSNolan Jones CFJhonkensy Noel RFAngel Martinez 2BAustin Hedges CBrewers schedule
Off-day May 15.
Brewers vs. Twins, 7:10 p.m. May 16. Milwaukee RHP Chad Patrick (2-3, 3.19) vs. Minnesota TBA. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Brewers vs. Twins, 6:10 p.m. May 17. Milwaukee LHP José Quintana vs. Minnesota TBA. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Brewers vs. Twins, 1:10 p.m. May 18. Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Minnesota TBA. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.