Brewers topple Padres with five-run sixth
SAN DIEGO -- Hernan Perez and Martin Maldonado each drove in two runs Wednesday night and pitcher Zach Davies allowed five hits over seven scoreless innings as the Brewers defeated the Padres, 5-0, at Petco Park.
The first six Brewers to bat in the five-run sixth inning reached base as Perez and Maldonado each had big hits off Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner, who opened the game with five shutout innings and seven strikeouts.
Davies gave up two hits in his final inning, allowing two walks with six strikeouts. He got 10 groundball outs in his final scheduled start, continuing the success he forged over six scoreless innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field last week.
"He had two great starts," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell. "It was Zach doing what he's good at, and I think knowing that he can succeed here, and [he] executes his pitches and pitches his game. He knows he has the weapons to get hitters out. It's a really positive sign."
With the win, the Brewers ensured they would finish fourth in the National League Central, ahead of the Reds.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Keeping the streak alive: Davies finished his season with 15 consecutive scoreless innings. He was acquired from the Orioles on July 31 and called up to the Brewers on Sept. 2. He nearly cracked in the seventh inning when Jedd Gyorko reached on an infield single with two outs and Melvin Upton Jr. hit a ground-rule double, but he induced a Clint Barmes groundout to strand both runners in scoring position. More >
"The kid from Milwaukee [Davies], give him credit. He pitched well, he's been pitching well," said Padres interim manager Pat Murphy.
Video: MIL@SD: Davies fans six over seven scoreless innings
Fast Cash: Before getting roughed-up in the sixth inning, Cashner was on quite a roll. He scattered five hits over the first five innings and had seven strikeouts -- striking out the side in the first inning. Cashner finished the season with a career-high 165 strikeouts.
"It's big. I've never made it from the first of the year to the end of the year," said Cashner, who has battled injuries in the past. "It's a lot of credit to a lot of people but I think it's also taking care of myself. It's something to be proud of for sure."
Video: MIL@SD: Cashner whiffs Perez to end the frame
Scoring strike: Jean Segura's single broke the teams' scoreless tie in the sixth inning before Perez stepped to the plate against Cashner and nearly did something remarkable. Perez has walked only four times in 259 plate appearances for the Brewers and Tigers this season, including zero walks in his last 119 plate appearances, but went to a full count against Cashner. Alas, there was no bases-loaded walk. Perez punched a two-run single up the middle for a 3-0 Brewers lead.
Video: MIL@SD: Perez knocks a single to drive in a pair
"It was a 'move the line' type of night," Counsell said. "We kept moving the line and had a bunch of hard ground balls through the infield. Big at-bats."
A strong Gale: After going hitless in his first five big league at-bats, Padres rookie catcher Rocky Gale singled to left field in the eighth inning. Gale, 27, has spent the last five seasons in the Padres' Minor League system. He was promoted from Triple-A El Paso on Sept. 2.
"It was such an honor to get a start and catch [Cashner]," Gale said of his first big league start. "I never wanted a hit so bad."
Video: MIL@SD: Gale singles to tally first big league hit
QUOTABLE
"The lineup is decimated. We're limping right now. It's been a tough September," -- Murphy after the Padres saw Justin Upton leave the game in the first inning with a neck strain. Matt Kemp, it was announced Wednesday, won't play again this season because of a partially torn tendon in his right middle finger. More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Even with a revamped offense, work done last winter by general manager A.J Preller, scoring has been a chore for the Padres. The loss Wednesday marked the 19th time this season they have been shut out. They were shut out six times alone in May.
REPLAY REVIEW
There was a crew-chief review in the first inning as the Brewers' Logan Schafer was awarded a home run on his ball down the right field line -- a ball that passed well right of the foul pole. After a review, the play was overturned. Schafer then hit a triple.
Video: MIL@SD: Schafer's homer overturned to foul in 1st
In the fourth inning, the Padres contested a play at first base where Segura was ruled safe after on an errant throw by third baseman Cory Spangenberg. But first baseman Derek Norris did a sweep tag and got Segura's head. That call, too, was overturned.
Video: MIL@SD: Norris gets the tag on overturned call in 4th
WHAT'S NEXT
Brewers: Taylor Jungmann gets a chance to author a happy ending to a terrific rookie season when he starts Thursday's 5:40 p.m. CT series finale. Jungmann owned a 2.42 ERA and surrendered only three home runs through his first 16 Major League starts, but has a 9.61 ERA and has allowed seven homers over his last four starts.
Padres: Ian Kennedy (8-15, 4.38) gets the start in the final regular season game of the season at Petco Park. Kennedy is 6-5 with a 4.65 ERA in 15 starts at home this season. He lost to the Brewers on Aug. 5 at Miller Park, allowing four runs in seven innings.
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