Five-run Brewers 8th haunts Diamondbacks in loss

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Scooter Gennett and Jonathan Villar each hit a two-run single in a five-run eighth inning that sent the Milwaukee Brewers to a 9-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.

With the score tied at 4, the Brewers batted around and broke the game open on three hits and four walks against Arizona’s bullpen.

Hernan Perez singled up the middle off reliever Daniel Hudson (1-2) to start the eighth, and Ryan Braun walked. With one out, Chris Carter walked to load the bases for Gennett, who blooped the go-ahead hit over second base.

Zac Curtis came on and struck out pinch-hitter Andy Wilkins, but walked Keon Broxton and Kirk Nieuwenhuis to force in another run. Villar followed with a two-run single that capped the rally.

Brewers starter Matt Garza allowed five hits in six innings and left with a 4-3 lead, but Arizona tied it at 4 in the seventh. Michael Bourn singled on a bunt to reliever Will Smith and raced to second on the throwing error to first. Bourn went to third on a groundout before Paul Goldschmidt greeted Tyler Thornburg (4-4) with a run-scoring infield single.

Garza hasn’t won since beating Washington 6-5 on June 25, a span of five starts.

Milwaukee chased Patrick Corbin in the sixth and went ahead 4-3. Braun singled, extending his hitting streak to 11 games, and Jonathan Lucroy walked. Enrique Burgos came on and got Carter to hit into a double play. Braun scored on Gennett’s single off the glove of shortstop Jean Segura.

Corbin hasn’t won since June 21, a stretch of six starts.

The Diamondbacks tied it at 3 in the fourth on Bourn’s fielder’s choice with the bases loaded.

Carter, who got Monday night off to regroup after going 1 for 18, singled in the Brewers’ first run in the first inning. Jake Elmore added a two-run single.

Segura doubled and scored on Goldschmidt’s single in the first. Welington Castillo’s ground-rule double drove in Goldschmidt.

LAMB OUT OF LINEUP

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale kept 3B Jake Lamb (sore left hand) out of the lineup and plans to use him sparingly over the next few days. The injury has been bothering the left-handed batter’s swing. “We’ll see how long it takes until he’s really comfortable, and he feels like his swing is back to where it was or we have to DL him,” Hale said. “Right now, we think it’ll be two, three, four days at the most. Maybe in LA, we’ll get him back to playing every day again.” The Diamondbacks play a weekend series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session before the game. He’s been on the disabled list since June 29 with a left oblique strain. He threw 25 pitches, took a brief break and then finished with another 15. Hale said Greinke likely will pitch in an Arizona Rookie League game on Friday. OF David Peralta (lower back strain) will remain on his rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno, but is expected to rejoin the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Brewers: INF Will Middlebrooks (lower right leg strain) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday. In his absence, manager Craig Counsell plans to use Perez more at third and less in right field. Perez has appeared in 62 games, including 39 starts (26 at 3B, 13 in RF). “His versatility is valuable,” Counsell said. Elmore is also in the mix at third.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley (3-6, 4.44 ERA) faces the Brewers for the first time. He was recalled from Triple-A Reno on May 29.

Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (6-8, 3.40) looks to add to his team-leading 11 quality starts when he faces the Diamondbacks for the third time in his career and first this season. He was 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Arizona last season.