Hellickson, Goldy clinch series for D-backs
MILWAUKEE -- Paul Goldschmidt homered in consecutive innings Saturday, including a three-run blast in the fourth inning that knocked Brewers starter Kyle Lohse from the game and removed the drama from the Diamondbacks' 7-3 victory at Miller Park.
"He pretty much single-handedly won the game by himself today," D-backs outfielder Mark Trumbo said of Goldschmidt.
Every Arizona starter but center fielder A.J. Pollock had a hit off Lohse, who lasted 3 1/3 innings and surrendered more hits (11) than he recorded outs (10). He was charged with seven earned runs and saw his ERA rise to 6.50 after 11 starts as the Brewers fell to 16-34, matching a club record for losses through 50 games.
Video: ARI@MIL: Hellickson plates Ahmed with RBI single
Even D-backs starter Jeremy Hellickson connected against Lohse for a pair of singles, one in a go-ahead, three-run second inning. After scoring nine total runs in being swept by the Cardinals in St. Louis earlier in the week, Arizona has scored 14 runs in winning the first two games of the current series in Milwaukee.
"Today was not good," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We needed a big performance today [from Lohse]. We'd lost six in a row so we needed a big performance and we didn't get it. He struggled. It's concerning."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Bad News Brewers: A pair of Brewers errors contributed to Arizona's three-run second inning. Lohse's own errant throw on Chris Owings' bunt single allowed the inning's first run to score, and Owings scored when Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado couldn't handle a relay throw from shortstop Jean Segura on Nick Ahmed's RBI double. The throw was on time and on-target, but Maldonado missed it, allowing Ahmed to reach third base. He scored for a 3-1 lead on Hellickson's single.
Video: ARI@MIL: Ahmed plates Owings with a double
Goldy loves Milwaukee: Goldschmidt's two home runs marked the sixth time in his career he has homered more than once in a game. It also added to Goldschmidt's prodigious numbers at Miller Park. He entered the game with a .476 batting average at Miller Park, the most among players with 40 or more plate appearances.
"I think he has success everywhere, to be honest," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "But this is a good place to hit. Good background. Ball seems to carry well. Guys are comfortable hitting here."
Another loss for Brewers: Besides losing the game, the Brewers lost another player to injury. Left fielder Khris Davis said he suffered a torn meniscus while striking out in the first inning and would undergo surgery on Tuesday, putting him in line to become the seventh of Milwaukee's eight Opening Day position players to miss a game this season. More >
Video: 5/30/15: Davis leaves game with apparent injury
Hellickson hitting stride: After a tough start to the season, Hellickson has put together three straight solid starts. On Saturday he allowed two runs over six innings, and he has a 2-0 record and a 3.37 ERA over his last three outings.
Video: ARI@MIL: Hellickson fans Davis for 500th strikeout
"I'm feeling good," Hellickson said. "The first handful of starts, I'd fall behind in the count and have to throw a fastball and I couldn't command my offspeed early. I've been working on that hard in-between starts. The main thing is just feeling a lot better and keeping the ball down, for the most part."
QUOTABLE
"The worst," -- Davis, using just those two words to describe the tough times facing the Brewers
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Before playing their 50th game Saturday, the Brewers were more games out of first place in the National League Central (16.5) than they had victories this season (16).
HISTORY LESSON
With their 34th defeat, the 2015 Brewers matched the 1970 and '72 teams for the most losses in the first 50 games of a season in franchise history. The Brewers finished 65-97 in '70, their first year in Milwaukee, and were 65-91 in '72. The 2002 Brewers, who went on to set a franchise record with 106 losses, were 17-33 in their first 50 games.
WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: The D-backs wrap up their three-game series with the Brewers and a six-game road trip Sunday at 11:10 a.m. MT at Miller Park. Chase Anderson will get the start. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.39 ERA in his last five starts.
Brewers: Up from Double-A Biloxi, right-handed sinkerballer Tyler Wagner will make his Major League debut when the teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. The Brewers called on Wagner to replace Wily Peralta, who will miss more than a month with a left oblique strain. Wagner's first MLB pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. CT.
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