Crew rallies after May's 1-pitch start ends with 106 mph comebacker off his back

NEW YORK -- A scoring rally that began with six straight singles. Brice Turang’s first home run of August. Two infield hits and a stolen base for Cooper Pratt on the day after his hustle came into question.

Plus, a stray squirrel.

Milwaukee’s 8-1 win over the Mets on Wednesday night at Citi Field featured a little bit of everything.

But it started with a serious scare.

Starter Dustin May's very first pitch came screaming back at him at 106 mph off the bat of Mets leadoff hitter A.J. Ewing, leading to May’s exit on a day Milwaukee’s bullpen was stretched thin.

Further developments helped ease May’s pain. Left-hander Robert Gasser provided parts of six innings of emergency relief, and the Brewers started the second inning with six successive singles for a four-run lead before adding three more in the fourth on Turang’s first home run since July 31.

There was even comic relief courtesy of a visiting squirrel, who spent most of the night perched atop the stadium’s protective netting but briefly descended in the third inning and interrupted play.

The start of the game, however, was no laughing matter. Ewing’s line drive struck May on the right side of his upper back before caroming to third baseman David Hamilton, who threw to first for an out. May doubled over in discomfort and remained on the mound for some time with head athletic trainer Brad Epstein and Brewers coaches in an effort to stay in the game.

But after attempting three warmup pitches, he ultimately departed in favor of Gasser.

X-rays were negative, and later in the game the Brewers announced May's injury as a right scapula contusion -- otherwise known as a bruised shoulder blade.

Gasser last started for the Brewers on Thursday and made his first appearance out of the bullpen this season, coming up big by delivering 5 1/3 innings while allowing one run on six hits and two walks over his 82 pitches.

He was scheduled to make his next start on Sunday against the Rangers at home, so the Brewers will have to juggle their pitching plans.

Their more immediate concern was May, the 28-year-old right-hander acquired by the Brewers at the Trade Deadline from the Cardinals along with lefty reliever JoJo Romero. May was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in his first three Milwaukee starts, though the numbers were inflated by a two-inning, seven-run dud against the Mariners his last time out.