Brewers roll past Twins after 6-run 1st inning
MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers torched Twins pitchers Trevor May and Alex Meyer for 10 runs in the first two innings of Milwaukee's 10-4 win Friday at Miller Park, carrying Kyle Lohse to a historic victory.
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Lohse allowed four runs in six innings to become the 14th pitcher to log wins against all 30 current Major League clubs, joining the Pirates' A.J. Burnett and the Marlins' Dan Haren in a fraternity that began with Al Leiter in 2002. Lohse had been stuck at 29 teams since 2013, when he lost his first crack at the Twins. He also took a no-decision in Minnesota earlier this season.
"It's good to see us jump on somebody early like that, give yourself some breathing room, especially on a night when I wasn't the sharpest," Lohse said. "But I battled through it and got us deep enough in the game with the lead."
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Twins leadoff man Brian Dozier put Lohse in an early deficit with a leadoff home run, but Gerardo Parra answered with his own leadoff shot in the bottom of the first inning, and the Brewers were in business against May. The Twins right-hander surrendered six runs (five earned) and recorded only one out before making way for the just-promoted Meyer, who surrendered four more runs in a second inning that featured home runs by Aramis Ramirez and Scooter Gennett.
"There were a couple of good pitches hit," May said. "I had one big opportunity to help myself out and I didn't make the play. Sometimes things are going to fall for the other team and you have to do your best to limit the damage. I didn't limit any of it."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Leadoff launches: Dozier put the Twins on the board four pitches into the game with his 11th career leadoff home run, and fourth this season. Parra answered for the Brewers in the bottom of the inning with the sixth leadoff shot of his career. Twins center fielder Shane Robinson tried to make a leaping catch at the wall but instead tipped the baseball into the Brewers bullpen.
"It would've been a homer either way," Robinson said. "At the peak of my jump, I crashed into the wall and it bounced off my glove." More >
Video: Must C Classic: Dozier, Parra hit leadoff homers
May not have it tonight: May surrendered only five earned runs in his first 24 innings in June before running into the Brewers on Friday. May's own throwing error on a Carlos Gomez comebacker allowed the third run to score, and delayed May's first (and only) out until the sixth batter of his night. He faced nine batters in all. More >
"The error was big," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "That's a possible double play, so it's a big play."
Video: MIN@MIL: Brewers capitalize on throwing error by May
Meyer's moment: May's early exit meant a Major League debut for the Twins' No. 3 prospect, Meyer, who didn't fare much better. He stranded a pair of baserunners who belonged to May in the first inning, but surrendered four runs in the second. Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run home run and Scooter Gennett followed two batters later with a solo homer that made it 10-1.
"I was excited to be out there, adrenaline was flowing," Meyer said. "These guys up here, if you leave one over the middle of the plate, it's going to get hit." More >
Video: MIN@MIL: Meyer notches first Major League strikeout
Hot corner: Ramirez's two-run home run in the second gave him 1,342 RBIs as a third baseman, passing Chipper Jones and Adrian Beltre for third-most in Major League history from that position. Only Brooks Robinson (1,350) and Mike Schmidt (1,474) logged more RBIs while manning third. Ramirez ranks fifth all-time with 373 home runs as a third baseman.
Video: MIN@MIL: Ramirez blasts a two-run homer to pad lead
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Dozier and Parra became the second pair of leadoff men to homer in the same game this season, joining the Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson and the Indians' Jason Kipnis on May 1 at Progressive Field. It marked the third such tandem in Brewers history, but the first that didn't involve Corey Hart. The former outfielder was part of similar moments in 2007 against the D-backs and in 2011 against the Cardinals.
WHAT'S NEXT
Twins: Right-hander Kyle Gibson is set to make his third consecutive Interleague start on Saturday at Miller Park. Gibson struck out a season-high nine batters against Milwaukee on June 5, but didn't factor into the decision, allowing five runs on six hits over seven innings. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. CT.
Brewers: Matt Garza surrendered 10 runs in a game for the second time this season when he last took the mound in Colorado, and will seek a better result against the Twins. Garza owns a 1.65 ERA in four career starts against Minnesota, all quality starts.
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