Gomez's 2nd blast caps comeback over Braves
MILWAUKEE -- Carlos Gomez hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and Francisco Rodriguez moved into a tie for eighth on the all-time saves list in a 6-5 Brewers win over the Braves on Wednesday at Miller Park, denying Atlanta's bid for a three-game sweep.
Gomez homered twice and drove in four runs, the final three on a line-drive homer off Luis Avilan in the eighth which gave Milwaukee its first lead of the afternoon. Rodriguez held it in the ninth for career save No. 367, tying Jeff Reardon on the all-time leaderboard. More >
"That was a good pitch we made to [Gomez in the eighth inning]," Braves catcher Ryan Lavarnway said. "Credit to him, he hit it and he's one of their guys."
Cameron Maybin and Kelly Johnson went deep off Brewers starter Mike Fiers in a four-run third inning, and Milwaukee didn't have a hit against Teheran until Khris Davis connected for a two-run homer in the fourth. It was 5-3 in the eighth when Gomez batted against Avilan with two runners aboard and one out, connecting with a 3-1 changeup and sending a line drive into the Brewers' bullpen.
Video: ATL@MIL: K. Johnson rips a solo homer to right-center
"Giving up four [runs] one inning isn't ideal, but you try to keep it there after that," Fiers said. "The way we've been swinging the bats the last week and a half, I knew we had a chance."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
A different Teheran: Though his impressive start was blemished by the only two hits (both homers) he surrendered over seven innings, Teheran didn't look like a guy who entered with a 7.40 road ERA and the realization that left-handed hitters had produced a .393 on-base percentage against him. He held the three left-handed hitters -- Gerardo Parra, Adam Lind and Scooter Gennett -- in Milwaukee's lineup hitless. After issuing consecutive one-out walks in the first, he retired Lind with a flyout and notched the first of his season-high eight strikeouts against Davis.
Video: ATL@MIL: Teheran fans eight over seven innings
"I thought Julio pitched well and gave us an opportunity to win the game," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It wasn't easy. It was [a season-high 115 pitches] and seven innings. But he gave us a nice opportunity to win a ballgame." More >
Khrushed: The only thing "Lite" about Davis' fourth-inning home run was the landing spot. Davis, playing his second game since a stint on the disabled list for a right knee injury, put the Brewers on the scoreboard in both the run and hit columns when he connected against Teheran for a two-run homer that struck the Miller Lite advertisement that runs along the bottom of the scoreboard in center field.
Video: Must C Crushed: Davis belts a moonshot to center
Thin 'pen: Because Jason Grilli had pitched each of the previous three days, Jim Johnson was targeted to close, and thus was not available to assume his regular role as the eighth-inning setup man. Avilan surrendered two soft singles to begin the bottom of the eighth before allowing Gomez's decisive home run, which stands as just one of the three hits the Braves left-handed reliever has allowed against right-handed batters in 15 at-bats, dating back to June 15. More >
Milestone save for K-Rod: Rodriguez worked around an infield hit by Atlanta's Pedro Ciriaco in the ninth inning to convert his 19th save in as many chances, and his 24th straight save dating to last season. He has yet to allow a run in a save opportunity, which remained the case Wednesday after Rodriguez and catcher Jonathan Lucroy combined to catch Ciriaco trying to steal second base. More >
Video: ATL@MIL: K-Rod induces flyout to secure the save
QUOTABLE
"It was three good games where that 'big hit' was the difference in the game." -- Brewers manager Craig Counsell, reflecting on a tight series against the Braves
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Braves averaged 2.1 runs during the first 14 games they played after Freddie Freeman was sidelined with a right wrist sprain, but they have have scored at least four runs in four of the five games that have followed.
REPLAY REVIEW
The Braves were unsuccessful with the challenge they issued when Eury Perez was called out attempting to reach on a bunt single to begin the fourth inning. First-base umpire Quinn Wolcott's call stood after replays did not provide conclusive evidence that Perez's headfirst slide beat Brewers first baseman Lind's foot to the bag.
Video: ATL@MIL: Out call on Perez stands after review
A more costly review went against the Braves when the umpires confirmed that Ciriaco was unsuccessful with his surprising attempt to steal second base while representing the potential tying run with one out in the ninth and Maybin at the plate.
Video: ATL@MIL: Out call on Ciriaco confirmed in 9th
WHAT'S NEXT
Braves: Alex Wood will take the mound when Atlanta begins a four-game series on Thursday night at Coors Field. The Braves have won 17 of the past 22 games they have played against the Rockies. First pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. ET.
Brewers: The Brewers will close the first half at Dodger Stadium, where last season's sweep of the Dodgers represented a high point for a franchise that has struggled ever since. It's Jimmy Nelson against L.A.'s Mike Bolsinger in the 9:10 p.m. CT series opener on Friday.
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