Shaw's 2-run homer lifts Brewers to dramatic win over Cubs

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- In each of the first two games of their four-game weekend showdown at Miller Park, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs went into the 10th inning before the defending World Series champions broke their young challengers' hearts.

So Saturday afternoon, when the Cubs again manufactured a go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, the few remaining local fans among the sold out crowd of 44,067 prepared for more agony.

Instead, the Brewers flipped the script, getting a one-out double from Ryan Braun that set up a two-run walk-off home run from Travis Shaw as Milwaukee rallied late -- and kept its slim postseason hopes alive -- with a 4-3 victory.

"I haven't been able to come up with the words for this series," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, whose team got within 4 1/2 games of the Cubs and one of the Rockies for a wild-card spot. "If this hasn't been the best series that you've seen in a long time this is about as exciting as it gets. It is as exciting as it gets. They're clearly coming into a good place where they're really tough to beat but we hung with them today."

Shaw hit his 31st homer after Milwaukee tied it in the ninth on a homer by Orlando Arcia off Wade Davis. The Cubs, who won the first two games in the 10th, took a one-run lead on a single by Jon Jay before Milwaukee dramatically won it.

Davis came back out for the 10th, working two innings for the second time in three games. He struck out Neil Walker to open the inning but Braun sent a double down the line and into the corner to bring up Shaw, who took ball one before connecting on a hanging curveball to win it.

"He missed with the curveball on the first pitch, and I was going to see if he'd do it again and he tried it again," Shaw said. "Last night I missed an opportunity early in the game to kind of blow it open. It just feels good to come out on the right side of things after a couple of tough days."

Davis (4-2), working multiple innings for the second time in three games, hadn't blown a save since Sept. 2, 2016.

"My arm was dragging a little bit," Davis said. "I just made a lot of bad pitches and good pitches for them to hit."

In the ninth, Davis struck out Neil Walker to open the inning but missed his mark coming inside on a 0-1 fastball that Arcia ripped down the left-field line for his 14th home run of the season, tying the game 3-3.

"Just wanted to get it in more and obviously I didn't," Davis said. "He put a pretty good swing on it."

Davis hadn't allowed a home run since Aug. 13 but recovered quickly from there, retiring the next two batters and Chicago got to work quickly in the 10th against Jeremy Jeffress (4-2) with Ian Happ starting things off by drawing a leadoff walk.

Jason Heyward moved him over with a sacrifice bunt and Jay sent him home with a single back up the middle, putting the Cubs ahead. Jay stole second and took third on a throwing error by Stephen Vogt and, with the Cubs threatening to break the game open, Jeffress intentionally walked Anthony Rizzo, Chicago's leader with 32 home runs and 107 RBIs.

The move paid off as Jeffress got Wilson Contreras -- no slouch himself with 21 homers and 73 RBIs this season -- to bounce into a force, ending the inning.

"The walk hurt JJ today but again, he did a pretty good job," Counsell said. "It's not hard contact that's beating him. It was just a roller up the middle."

Milwaukee got a solid start from left-hander Brent Suter, who held the Cubs to a run on six hits with a pair of strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

Kyle Hendricks was just as stingy, allowing just a run on Eric Thames' first-inning RBI single, despite giving up eight hits with a walk while striking out six over six innings of work.

The bullpens took over from there and maintained the tie into the eighth when Jacob Barnes, back out for his second inning, allowed a leadoff double to Ian Happ and a single to Heyward.

Counsell turned to setup man Anthony Swarzak to get out of the jam but Jay moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt and Kris Bryant put the Cubs ahead with a sacrifice fly to center before Swarzak ended the inning.

NOTES: Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon says he plans to keep his rotation in order this week, with LHP Jon Lester kicking off a four-game series at St. Louis on Monday despite command problems in his last outing. ... Milwaukee Brewers C Manny Pina missed a second consecutive game because of a sprained left thumb suffered Thursday in the series opener. ... The Brewers and Cubs have split the season series, winning nine games each, and wrap it up Sunday afternoon with Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (6-3, 3.95 ERA) facing Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (11-3, 2.74).

Castillo strikes out career-high 10 as Reds rout Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds knew they were getting a quality pitcher when they acquired right-hander Luis Castillo in a trade with the Miami Marlins in January. But the 24-year-old has exceeded most expectations and now appears penciled into the Reds' rotation for 2018.

On Wednesday afternoon, Castillo allowed one run with a career-high 10 strikeouts in his final start of the season, lifting Cincinnati to a 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

"We knew what we were getting stuff-wise," Reds manager Bryan Price said of Castillo. "He's a tough kid. Hard worker. Tremendous confidence. He's the real deal."

Castillo (3-7) retired 22 of the last 24 batters he faced during his eight-inning stint. He threw 111 pitches on Wednesday, his second-most this season.

"After the first inning, he eliminated their ability to get the barrel on the ball," Price said. "He was outstanding. How many guys can come up from Double-A and do what he's done?"

Among his seven losses, Castillo (3-7) twice was the victim of blown saves and absorbed a 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh.

Price confirmed earlier in the week that this was Castillo's final start. He finished with 169 1/3 innings between Double-A and the majors this season. Castillo had 131 2/3 innings in the minors last year.

"I feel really happy that I had a great year," Castillo said through a translator. "I'm going to take this offseason, go back to the Dominican, and work hard."

Zack Cozart and Jose Peraza each homered for the Reds (61-79), who swept the Brewers for the first time since May 10-12, 2013, at Great American Ball Park.

"They outplayed us," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell. "We didn't have a good series. Today, we ran into a good pitching performance. We didn't get anything going against their starting pitching."

Neil Walker hit a solo home run for Milwaukee (72-68), which has lost four of its past five games and trails the first-place Chicago Cubs by four games in the National League Central standings.

The Cubs played at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. Milwaukee begins a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday.

Perhaps, Milwaukee was looking ahead?

"We had good energy every day before the games," Counsell said. "It's something I was aware of. We've struggled holding this team down offensively. We knew going in that they could score some runs."

Milwaukee collected only four hits off Castillo -- two in the first inning.

Castillo struck out three batters in the first but also allowed Walker's 13th home run of the season to open the scoring.

It was the first and only lead for the Brewers in the series -- and that was all the offense Milwaukee could muster against Castillo.

"They're a really good team," Castillo said. "I just wanted to compete and make my pitches. I had really good command."

Brewers starter Matt Garza (6-9) allowed five earned runs on six hits over 2 2/3 innings.

The Reds collected three consecutive singles in the third, including an RBI hit by Adam Duvall to tie the score at 1.

A fourth straight hit loaded the bases with one out and Garza walked Scott Schebler to force in the go-ahead run.

"Matt just had some bad luck," Counsell said. "I don't think he had too many pitches he wished he had back -- maybe the walk to Schebler. They had some jam shots and the double play we couldn't turn. I thought he pitched OK."

Walker couldn't handle Hernan Perez's throw to complete a potential inning-ending double play on Peraza's grounder, allowing two more runners raced home giving the Reds a 4-1 lead.

Cozart collected his 18th home run, a solo shot off Jeremy Jeffress in the seventh inning. Peraza homered off Corey Knebel in the eighth.

"It sucks, but we still have three weeks left," Garza said. "We can turn it around and get back in this thing. We've got the off day tomorrow to regroup and get right back at it."

NOTES: Reds CF Billy Hamilton left the game in the third inning with a fractured left thumb, which isn't necessarily season-ending. ... Reds recalled RHP Luke Farrell from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Farrell is the son of Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell. ... Reds RHP Sal Romano will start Sunday against the New York Mets at Citi Field. His turn in the rotation was pushed back due to a cut on his right index finger. ... Brewers RHP Taylor Williams made his major league debut in the eighth inning, retiring both batters he faced.

Parker's two-run double lifts Giants past Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- SAN FRANCISCO -- Three outs from a stinging series loss to the last-place San Francisco Giants, lightning struck the playoff-contending Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon.

It hit them in the foot, adding to the pain.

Jarrett Parker's check-swing, two-run double broke a seventh-inning tie and sent the Giants to a 4-2 victory and series win over the Brewers, who might have lost slugger Travis Shaw in the process.

The star third baseman fouled a ball off his right foot in the ninth inning and, after drawing a walk, left the field with a serious limp moments later.

"We don't know," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of the extent of the injury. "He'll get X-rays."

Left-hander Matt Moore pitched six strong innings before handing off the ball to the bullpen, helping the Giants win for a second time in the three-game series.

"I thought everybody did well," Moore said of the series win. "They have a good chance to get into the postseason. So for us to come in here and kind of ruin someone's day, it was something for us moving forward that we can build on as a club."

The loss dropped Milwaukee to 3-3 on its nine-game Western swing.

"We just didn't do enough today," Counsell lamented. "They pitched well and their bullpen did a nice job. We just couldn't push the runners across."

Pinch-hitter Denard Span's one-out double down the right field line against the Brewers' third pitcher, right-hander Jacob Barnes (3-4), got the decisive seventh inning rolling for the Giants.

After Gorkys Hernandez was hit by a pitch, Barnes struck out Kelby Tomlinson for the second out before jamming Parker with a fastball that the lefty hitter blooped just inside third base and into the Giants' bullpen, easily scoring Span and Hernandez with the difference-making runs.

"You hear good things happen to you when you put the ball in play, and he did," Giants manager Bruce Bochy noted. "I don't think that was the swing he was looking for on the first pitch, but that's a break for us. We'll take it."

Barnes came within one strike of retiring Hernandez before grazing his jersey with a fastball.

"Had a little bad luck there," Counsell said of Parker's hit. "The hit by pitch ended up hurting us."

Right-handers Hunter Strickland (3-3), Mark Melancon and Sam Dyson took it from there, limiting the Brewers to just one run on one hit over three innings to cap a 4-3 season-series win that was the Giants' fourth in a row against Milwaukee.

Aided by an insurance run produced by a Carlos Moncrief sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning, Dyson allowed a solo home run to pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt in the ninth before recording his 12th save.

Vogt's homer was his fifth of the season and the first of his career as a pinch hitter.

Hernandez had two doubles for the Giants, who totaled five doubles among their nine hits.

Tomlinson and Brandon Crawford also had two hits for San Francisco.

Domingo Santana collected a single and a double for the Brewers, who were seeking their first series win in San Francisco since 2010.

Both starting pitchers left with the game tied 1-1 after strong efforts that began with first-inning runs.

Moore allowed five hits, including doubles by Santana and Shaw that gave the Brewers a quick 1-0 advantage.

"It's about how you finish in this game," Bochy said of Moore's season, which began 3-12 before he's turned things around with three straight solid efforts. "We're all going to have our struggles, our hiccups, our bumps in the road, whatever. What's important is how you deal with it."

Moore walked two and struck out six.

The Giants got even against Brewers right-hander Matt Garza after loading the bases against him in the last of the first on a double by Hernandez, a single by Tomlinson and a walk to Parker.

Buster Posey tied the game with a sacrifice fly, after which Garza escaped further damage.

Garza allowed five hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out six.

"I was going into the game thinking: If Matt gives us 15 outs, we're in good shape," Counsell noted. "One run in five innings. I'll take that every single time. He did exactly what we asked him to do."

The Giants out-hit the Brewers 9-6.

NOTES: There were just 15 total runs scored in the series, the fewest in any Giants three-game series this season. Their previous low had been 16 against Washington on May 29-31. ... The Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays totaled just eight runs in a three-game series earlier this month. ... Giants RHP Sam Dyson's 12 saves since July 1 are tied for the most in the National League. ... Giants RF Hunter Pence (sore left hamstring) was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight day. ... Before the game, the Brewers claimed RHP Aaron Brooks off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. He was sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs. RHP Paolo Espino was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Brooks. ... Both teams are off Thursday before starting road series on Friday, the Brewers in Los Angeles to face the Dodgers, and the Giants in Arizona to duel the Diamondbacks.

Perez, Brewers cut down Giants

(TSX / STATS) -- SAN FRANCISCO -- In an epic duel between a catcher's speed and an outfielder's arm, an infielder prevailed Tuesday night.

Converted third baseman Hernan Perez, a late-game defensive replacement, threw out Nick Hundley at the plate from right field to preserve a one-run lead in the eighth inning, helping the Milwaukee Brewers hold on for a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Ryan Braun and Travis Shaw drove in runs in a two-run seventh for the Brewers, who rallied from a 3-2 deficit to win for the third time in five games on their nine-game trip.

"We're at a point in the season where we're going to say every win is big," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, whose club kept pace with the first-place Chicago Cubs atop the National League Central, remaining 2 1/2 games back. "We're chasing. Every win is important."

Brandon Crawford had a two-run homer for the Giants, who had won five straight at home over the Brewers.

"Big home run. We're down a run and he hits a home run that put us ahead," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's been getting some big hits for us lately. I'm glad to see him getting back on track."

After the Giants lost their one-run lead in the seventh inning, they nearly drew even in the eighth against right-hander Anthony Swarzak.

Pinch-hitting for Ryder Jones, Hundley singled with one out and advanced into scoring position with two outs when Swarzak walked pinch hitter Hunter Pence.

Denard Span, who twice earlier in the game failed with the bases loaded, grounded a single to right field, but Perez's accurate throw to the plate easily beat Hundley for the inning-ending out.

"I knew it was Hundley at second base. He's not very fast," Perez said of the thought process that led to his first assist as a right fielder this season. "It was a slow hit, so I tried to get it as quickly as I could and make a good throw."

Perez, who has played 240 of his 392 career games at second or third base, was mobbed by teammates when he reached the dugout steps a few seconds later.

"It's the same (as hitting a game-winning home run) because you are the hero," he said. "You are the guy who did the play that won the game. That's a great feeling."

Bochy was surprised with the outcome of the game's most critical play.

"The runners get a good jump (with two strikes, and) it wasn't hit real hard," he said. "You give their right fielder credit. He came in, got rid of it. It was kind of an awkward throw; it looked like it bounced a couple of times, but right on the money. They executed."

Closer Corey Knebel pitched a scoreless ninth for his 27th save, fanning Buster Posey for his franchise-record 100th relief strikeout of the season to end it.

Brewers catcher Manny Pina threw out Kelby Tomlinson trying to steal after the Giants second baseman opened the ninth with a single. It was Pina's second gun-down of the night.

"Good defense in this place is important," Counsell said. "We played a good defensive game tonight, that's for sure."

The Brewers trailed 3-2 after Crawford's homer, his 11th of the season, before Eric Thames drew a one-out walk from Giants right-hander Albert Suarez (0-3) to open the seventh inning.

Neil Walker followed with a double, after which Thames scored from third on Braun's game-tying sacrifice fly.

Shaw then grounded a double into the right field corner, scoring Walker with the go-ahead run.

Right-hander Jeremy Jeffress (1-0), who pitched a scoreless sixth inning, got the win.

Walker and Eric Sogard had two hits apiece for the Brewers (66-61), who are three games behind the Colorado Rockies (68-57) in the race for the second NL wild card.

The win was the 200th of Counsell's managerial career.

Pablo Sandoval and Gorkys Hernandez had two hits each for the Giants, who fell to 3-3 on their seven-game homestand.

Neither starting pitcher got a decision.

Seeking his ninth win of the year, Giants right-hander Jeff Samardzija left with a 3-2 lead after six innings, having allowed just two runs (one earned) and six hits.

Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson failed in his fourth straight try to pick up a 10th victory. He gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings.

Both starting pitchers failed to help themselves with the bat, short-circuiting potential big innings early.

The Brewers scored single runs in the second and fourth innings to take 1-0 and 2-1 leads. But in both cases, the uprising ended when Nelson made an out (a strikeout and a groundout) with a runner in scoring position.

The Giants countered Milwaukee's second-inning run with one of their own on an infield single by Hernandez. Nelson then struck out Samardzija with one out and the bases loaded before getting Span to ground out to prevent further scoring.

The same inning-ending scenario played out two innings later when Samardzija again struck out with the bases loaded and one out. Span then lined out as Nelson retained his 2-1 lead.

NOTES: The Brewers won for just the 11th time this season when not hitting a home run in the game. ... Giants RF Hunter Pence (tight left hamstring) was scratched from the starting lineup shortly before first pitch. He was replaced in right field by Gorkys Hernandez. Pence pinch-hit in the eighth inning and drew a walk before leaving for a pinch runner. ... Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (strained flexor tendon) pitched three shutout innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento against Albuquerque. He allowed three hits and struck out one while throwing 47 pitches. ... Giants 2B Joe Panik (concussion) played the first five innings in the same game at Sacramento, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. He is scheduled to play seven innings for Class A San Jose on Wednesday night.

Rockies blast three homers in win over Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies' history against Milwaukee starter Matt Garza wasn't recent, but it was robust.

Picking up where they left off, the Rockies pounded Garza on Friday night and beat the Brewers 8-4.

Garza, who last faced the Rockies on June 21, 2015, gave up three homers among the nine hits he allowed and eight runs (seven earned) in 4 1/3 innings.

Charlie Blackmon hit his sixth leadoff homer and the 28th of his career. Gerardo Parra hit his 10th homer in the fifth, and two batters later Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run homer that gave the Rockies an 8-2 lead and finished Garza's outing. He has failed to pitch six innings in six straight starts.

Garza (6-7) is 2-6 with a 6.90 ERA in eight starts against the Rockies and is 0-4 with a 10.02 ERA in four starts at Coors Field.

"We have a right-hander that we have success (against) in the past," Gonzalez said. "So we want to jump ahead and try to score some runs and give him a rough night. That's exactly what we thought about before the game and then we did it in the game. So it's always good to execute and to get the job done and to win the game."

The win was the fourth in 11 games for the Rockies, who moved one game ahead of Arizona in the National League wild-card race.

The Brewers, whose four-game winning streak ended, fell into fourth place -- 4 1/2 games behind Arizona in the chase for second wild-card spot.

Rockies starter German Marquez (10-5) gave up a career-high three home runs but all came with the bases empty.

After giving up single runs in the third and fourth, Marquez yielded back-to-back homers in the sixth to Keon Broxton and Orlando Arica, both long drives over the fence in center.

Those homers trimmed Colorado's lead to 8-4 and ended Marquez's start after 5 2/3 innings. He gave up seven hits and four runs with one walk and six strikeouts and surrendered a career-high three home runs.

"What was important today is our starting pitcher did a nice job," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "Kept us right there and when we took the lead, he kept us there. The bullpen did a nice job."

Mike Dunn, Jake McGee, Pat Neshek and closer Greg Holland -- Colorado's most reliable late-game relievers -- combined to hold the Brewers scoreless for the final 3 1/3 innings. Holland, who had gone three days without pitching, finished in a non-save situation.

"We like those guys," Black said. "We like their experience. Look at their track record. They've done this over time. So for us to get where we want to be, we have to pitch well. And they pitched well tonight."

Parra extended the Rockies' lead to 6-2 when he led off the fifth with just his second homer since July 17. Garza then struck out Mark Reynolds, who reached first base on a wild pitch thrown on the third strike, and Gonzalez followed with an opposite-field two-run homer that increased the lead to 8-2 and ended Garza's outing.

"I didn't do a great job of keeping it down," Garza said. "(Coors Field) plays small on nice days like this. You pay when you're here, and they get the ball up. That's all it is. It's just missed spots and they took advantage of it."

Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw made a sprawling stop of Trevor Story's hard grounder in the fourth, tried for a forceout but threw wide of second base. Gonzalez, who was on second, continued home to make it 5-2.

Nolan Arenado tripled home two runs in the third. He scored to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead when Parra followed with a single, lining a ball that went off the glove of leaping shortstop Arcia.

Marquez began the inning by hustling a single into a double before Blackmon singled. Both runners scored on Arenado's career-high seventh triple.

Marquez went sliding into second base on his double, giving an anxious moment to Black and pitching coach Steve Foster. Asked about his slide, Marquez smiled and said, "I thought it was terrible, man."

Marquez gave up Domingo Santana's 20th homer in the second, which tied the game at 1. He yielded a run in the third that put Milwaukee ahead 2-1 when Eric Thames led off with a triple and Neil Walker followed with a single. That was the only Brewers' hit in five at-bats with a runner in scoring position against Marquez.

"The thing is he's only 22," Rockies catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "Good stuff, good arm. And I just think he's going to get better as he learns how to pitch, as he learns how to manage innings, learns how to read swings as he gets more experience. You can't teach 98 (mph) sinkers. And he's very competive, too, and he's very intelligent.

"He knows what he's doing out there, and I think this kid's got a bright future."

NOTES: Rockies RHP Jeff Hoffman and INF Ryan McMahon were optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque and RHP Scott Oberg and OF Mike Tauchman were recalled. ... Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela will take Hoffman's place in the rotation. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado was in the lineup. He left in the seventh inning Thursday with a bone bruise on his left hand where he was hit with a hard grounder. ... Brewers C Stephen Vogt (left knee sprain) was reinstated and C Andrew Susac (right trapezius strain) was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 15. ... The Brewers hit back-to-back homers for the sixth time this season and first time since July 25 at Washington.

Broxton, Pina power Brewers past Pirates

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- An ageless philosophical baseball debate played out on Wednesday afternoon as small ball took on power.

In the end, power prevailed as the Milwaukee Brewers slugged five home runs in a 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, extending their winning streak to four games and keeping the pressure on Chicago in the NL Central.

"It's certainly fun when you hit home runs," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "It was a fun game today. We kept coming back. We took advantage of three mistakes and drove them out of the park."

Keon Broxton hit two homers, giving him three in the last two games, while Neil Walker and Travis Shaw also went deep. But it was Manny Pina's two-run blast in the eighth inning that did the most damage, wiping out a late deficit.

"That's our team, and it started in the first half," Pina said of Milwaukee's current streak. "Swinging the bat, hitting homers, bringing in a lot of runs. Now we are almost in the same spot, pitchers and hitters together. That's why we're winning."

Gerrit Cole had only allowed three runs total in three starts against Milwaukee this season but topped that through six innings Wednesday. He allowed four on five hits, including three homers, while striking out nine.

"They are a dangerous club," Cole said. "They have led the division for three quarters of the year and they are right there still in the hunt. They are historically an offensive team since I've been here. Sometimes you get clipped and you just have to keep making pitches."

The Pirates chipped away at Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson, collecting eight hits off the right-hander. Nelson allowed five runs, but only three earned thanks to a pair of errors and struck out seven over 6 1/3 innings.

Nelson's own defensive miscue put him behind early. Starling Marte reached on a leadoff single and Nelson botched the pickoff attempt, sending Marte to third.

Josh Bell sent him home with a two-out single and came through again in the third as Pittsburgh made it a 4-0 game with three straight run-scoring singles.

"You have to stick to your plan and not make the at-bat bigger than it is," said Bell, who finished with three hits on the day.

Broxton put the Brewers on the board with a home run to lead off the bottom of the inning. Walker cut the deficit to a run later in the frame with a two-run shot, his first as a Brewer.

Nelson had retired 11 in a row when Chris Stewart singled with one out in the seventh. Jesus Aguilar botched the throw on a John Jaso grounder, putting two on for Marte.

Marte bounced into a force that got Stewart at third but Josh Harrison followed with a single to left that scored Jaso, giving Pittsburgh a 5-4 lead.

Broxton came through again, leading off the bottom of the seventh with his second homer of the game. Bell opened the eighth with a triple off Anthony Swarzak (5-3) and scored two batters later on Adam Frazier's single, putting the Pirates back in front.

The Brewers weren't quite done, though. Aguilar hustled for a one-out infield single and Juan Nicasio (1-5) hung a 2-1 slider to Pina, who belted it to right for his ninth of the season.

Corey Knebel worked a scoreless ninth for his 24th save.

"We just kept coming and they kept coming back," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We got on top of them twice after they tied it up. We put the three-spot up. They answered with three. Then they tied it up and we kept exchanging punches. It is one of those game you can see here at Miller Park now and then."

Milwaukee closed to within a game of the NL Central-leading Cubs, who were hosting Cincinnati later Wednesday evening.

NOTES: The Brewers were without SS Orlando Arcia (back spasms) and LF Ryan Braun (day off) but had RHP Anthony Swarzak available out of the bullpen after he missed four games with neck stiffness. ... Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said C Francisco Cervelli was "improving" but sat out again Tuesday as he recovers from a sore left wrist. ... Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell flipped his starters for his team's weekend series at Colorado. RHP Matt Garza will now start Friday and Brandon Woodruff will go Saturday.

Brewers host Pirates, seek fourth straight victory

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(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- It is only a three-game winning streak, but the Milwaukee Brewers feel as if they are back on track in what has suddenly become a scramble atop the National League Central.

The Brewers' surge -- paired with losses by the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night -- moved Milwaukee into a tie with the Cardinals for second place, 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cubs.

After watching their own 5 1/2-game lead over the rest of their rivals disappear thanks to a 7-18 swoon, the Brewers (62-59) suddenly have momentum as they go into the finale of a two-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park.

The Brewers took the series opener 3-1 on Tuesday.

"Our pitching's been really good now for three weeks outside of maybe two or three games," Milwaukee third baseman Travis Shaw said. "Offensively, we just weren't holding up our end of the deal. We had a good series against Cincinnati, Zach (Davies) pitched great again (Tuesday night), and we scored enough runs to win."

Milwaukee's offense got a boost from the addition of Neil Walker, who has three hits in his first two games since coming over from the New York Mets. He also has been impressive in the field and is likely to see a majority of the action at second base down the stretch.

"He (has) played really well," manager Craig Counsell said. "He knows what he's doing."

Jimmy Nelson (9-6, 3.72 ERA) gets the ball for Milwaukee, looking to bounce back after a rough outing last week against the Cincinnati Reds when he was tagged for 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings.

"When it rains, it pours," Nelson said after that outing. "That was pretty tough. Can't do anything about it now. Just get back to work."

Prior to that, though, Nelson has been every bit an ace for the Brewers, going 8-3 with a 2.96 ERA over a 16-start stretch. He has struggled against the Pirates in 2017, though, going 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA with seven strikeouts in eight innings over two starts.

Overall, Nelson is 5-4 with a 3.64 ERA in 12 career starts against Pittsburgh,

The Pirates will send right-hander Gerrit Cole to the mound, and he will try to continue his success against Milwaukee this year: 1-0 with 1.29 ERA in three starts. He is 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 10 starts vs. the Brewers in his career. Cole is 1-2 with a 4.37 ERA in four career starts at Miller Park.

Cole has been red hot over the past six weeks, going 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA in five starts since the beginning of July.

"I guess it's been pretty good," Cole said of his recent success. "There's still room for improvement. (I'm) still getting nicked here and there. I'll try to get better for the next one."

The Pirates (58-61) have lost three in a row to fall 4 1/2 games behind the Cubs, but they could get a boost with the return of Francisco Cervelli. The catcher missed Pittsburgh's past three games with a sore left wrist but won't need a trip to the disabled list, according to manager Clint Hurdle.

"This is an injury he will need to play through," Hurdle said. "(The time off was) an opportunity for us to calm it down a little bit."

Cervelli is batting .500 in six games against Milwaukee this season but is 3-for-14 (.214) in his career against Nelson.

Broxton, Davies lift Brewers past Pirates

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- Keon Broxton blasted a pinch-hit home run, and Zach Davies bounced back from a rough outing his last time out to work into the seventh as the Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to three games with a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday at Miller Park.

Davies (14-6) held the Pirates to one run, scattering six hits and two walks over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out two. Last Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, Davies gave up six runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Ivan Nova (10-10) went six innings and was charged with two runs (one earned), four hits and three walks while striking out four.

Travis Shaw, who began the day 10-for-13 against Nova, reached three times against him Tuesday and put the Brewers on the board when he singled and scored in the second inning.

Davies cruised through the first five innings but walked Andrew McCutchen to open the sixth. Josh Bell followed by hitting into a force at second, and after David Freese flied out, Adam Frazier tripled, tying the game at 1.

Milwaukee responded quickly, taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Manny Pina. Broxton provided a cushion in the seventh when he worked a full count against A.J. Schugel before going opposite field for his 17th home run of the season.

Starling Marte's second hit of the night chased Davies with two outs in the seventh. Jared Hughes retired Josh Harrison to get out of the inning. Jacob Barnes worked a perfect eighth, and Corey Knebel locked down his 23rd save with a scoreless ninth.

NOTES: The Pirates placed OF Gregory Polanco (strained left hamstring) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled C Elias Diaz from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... 3B Travis Shaw returned to the Brewers' lineup and went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs. He sat out Sunday after fouling pitches off his knee and foot in an at-bat the night before. ... C Stephen Vogt (left knee sprain) is expected to join the Brewers in Denver, manager Craig Counsell said. ... Jonathan Villar made his first career start in center field Tuesday as Counsell tried to stack his lineup with left-handed bats against Pirates RHP Ivan Nova. ... Andrew McCutchen returned to center field for Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He served as the team's designated hitter Sunday at Toronto in order to rest his left knee. ... SS Orlando Arcia was a late scratch from Milwaukee's lineup because of back spasms.

Newcomer Walker helps Brewers top Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- Neil Walker expects to sleep soundly Sunday night.

After a whirlwind night that began in Philadelphia when he learned he was traded, continued with a car ride back to New York to pack his bags, followed by a early-morning flight to Milwaukee, Walker made a memorable debut with the Brewers by collecting two singles in his first two at-bats in a 7-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park.

"I was excited to get here and I was excited when I talked to (manager Craig Counsell) last night," Walker said. "He told me I was going to be in the lineup and I was excited about that. Easier in my opinion to get thrown in the fire and see how it goes."

Walker's presence provided an extra spark to a Brewers offense that snapped out of a lengthy funk against the Reds, putting up 23 runs in the three-game series, nearly matching the 25 they scored in the eight games leading up to the Reds' visit.

"We swung the bats well these last three games," Counsell said. "We had good at-bats."

Following the formula that worked so well for much of the season, the Brewers jumped on their opponent early, scoring three in the first inning against Sal Romano.

Ryan Braun got things started with an RBI double, then scored on an error by right fielder Jesse Winker. Manny Pina capped the early outburst with an RBI double before Romano got out of it.

"The Brewers are real aggressive on the bases, very effective and efficient running the bases, taking extra bases, stealing bases, bunting, doing all the things that really keep you on your toes defensively and they exploit things," Reds manager Bryan Price said.

Matt Garza (6-6) kept the Reds off the board through three innings, but a leadoff walk to Joey Votto in the fourth came back to haunt him when Adam Duvall followed with his 27th home run of the year.

Domingo Santana gave the Brewers some breathing room in the fifth, sending a 1-0 offering from Romano over the fence, putting Milwaukee up 7-2.

"That three-run homer to Santana really cost us today," Romano said. "I've just got to be able to get that guy out in that situation."

The rookie gave way after the fifth inning, having allowed seven runs (six earned), eight hits and a walk while striking out seven.

"I thought there was definitely a lot of good today, a lot of improvement in a lot of different things," Romano said. "Obviously the stat line doesn't show that, and a loss for the team. But I'm just taking bits and pieces from every game and continue to get better."

Garza battled again in the sixth, issuing a leadoff walk to Scooter Gennett. He retired Eugenio Suarez on a weak grounder to first, but Jose Peraza followed with a single. With Tucker Barnhart up, a wild pitch allowed Gennett to score.

Barnhart drove in another run with an RBI single, chasing Garza, but Jeremy Jeffress got Milwaukee out of the inning.

"It was ugly," said Garza, who gave up four runs, allowed five hits and walked five. "But sometimes ugly wins, and that's all we're here to do, is win. It wasn't my best outing. It wasn't my cleanest outing.

"The four runs that scored were five walks, so it wasn't my strongest outing. But, hey, at the end of the day, we won. The whole goal is to win as many ballgames as we can. We won a series for the first time in a while. Just trying to get this thing rolling again."

Jacob Barnes put up zeroes in the seventh and eighth, and Corey Knebel locked it down in the ninth for his 22nd save.

NOTES: INF Neil Walker arrived in Milwaukee and was in the Brewers' starting lineup, batting cleanup and playing third base. ... To make room for Walker on the active roster, Milwaukee placed LHP Brent Suter on the disabled list with a mild rotator cuff strain and designated RHP Michael Blazek for assignment, opening space on the 40-man roster. ... Walker started at 3B because Travis Shaw was given a day off after fouling pitches off a foot and knee Wednesday night. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he expects Shaw to be back Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. ... Cincinnati placed RHP Austin Brice on the 10-day disabled list with a right lat strain and reinstated RHP Robert Stephenson from the 10-day disabled list. He had been bothered by right shoulder issues.

Brewers snap 6-game skid on wild pitch in 10th

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee's offense magically reappeared with three homers on Saturday night, but Eric Sogard's mad dash home on a 10th-inning wild pitch was the deciding factor as the Brewers snapped their season-high six-game losing streak with a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park.

"I think you're kind of expecting a walk-off win or something like that to break a streak, but you can take it any way you can get it," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "You can tell by the celebration we had that we needed it."

Travis Shaw, Ryan Braun and Eric Thames each homered for the Brewers, who produced 12 hits in their third walk-off win of the year -- and their second by wild pitch.

After stranding runners at first and second in the ninth, closer Corey Knebel (1-2) worked around a one-out single in the top of the 10th to preserve the tie.

Sogard started the rally with a one-out double but missed a chance to tag up and advance when catcher Manny Pina flied out to center. Tim Adelman (5-10) proceeded to walk the next two batters, loading the bases for Braun, who had 40 career home runs against Reds pitchers -- including his shot earlier in the night.

Adleman got ahead of Braun 2-0 and followed with a curveball that got past catcher Tucker Barnhart.

"I pulled it off of the outside corner a little too far," Adleman said. "That's a real tough pitch for Tucker to block. He did pretty well. It didn't get too far, but Sogard got a good jump on it."

Sogard scrambled home and slid just under the reach of Adleman, giving Milwaukee its first victory in a week.

"I was looking for a curveball in the dirt there 0-2," Sogard said. "It was able to get just outside the dirt there. That's kind of what I was looking for, anything close to the grass I was going to give a shot. I was able to get in there. That was great. We needed that win."

The rally helped make up for another short start from left-hander Brent Suter, who gave up five runs and four hits -- including three home runs -- while walking four and striking out three.

Adam Duvall tagged Suter for a two-run homer in the opening inning. After Shaw responded with a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning, Patrick Kivlehan put the Reds in front with a two-run blast in the fourth. Zack Cozart made it 5-3 when he took Suter deep with one out in the fifth.

"They did a nice job at laying off the balls up, which he's got a lot of swings at," Counsell said. "They made him get down in the zone to pitches they could hit and obviously hit some homers."

Cincinnati starter Scott Feldman didn't fare much better in his return from a month-long stint on the disabled list. He went just four innings and gave up three runs, seven hits and a walk while striking out six.

Reds manager Bryan Price was working with a short bullpen after Michael Lorenzen threw 29 pitches and closer Raisel Iglesias worked two innings a night earlier after Cincinnati blew an eight-run lead.

So instead, Price turned to Kevin Shackelford, who missed his mark on a first-pitch offering that Braun sent to center for his 13th of the year, cutting the deficit to 5-4. Milwaukee threatened to break the game open in the inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Shackelford snuck out of it without any further damage by striking out Andrew Susac.

He wasn't as lucky in the sixth as Thames tied it with his team-leading 27th homer of the season -- and 10th of the year against the Reds.

"The guys that were in there were capable of doing the job," Price said.

NOTES: Brewers GM David Stearns announced after the game that Milwaukee acquired switch-hitting 2B Neil Walker from the Mets in exchange for a player to be named. ... The Reds designated IF/OF Arismendy Alcantara for assignment, clearing the way for RHP Scott Feldman to come off the disabled list and start against the Brewers. Alcantara batted .171 in 70 games for Cincinnati this season. ... Brewers 3B Travis Shaw fouled pitches off his foot and knee during a fifth-inning at-bat but stayed in the game until singling in the ninth inning, when he was replaced by a pinch-runner.

Twins top Brewers for fifth straight win

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- Don't look now, but the Minnesota Twins are right back in the thick of the American League wild-card chase.

The Twins extended their winning streak to a season-high five games Thursday and moved above the .500 mark for the first time since July 23 with a dominating 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, themselves losers of five in a row.

"We're energized and you can feel it," said Minnesota manager Paul Molitor, whose team sits a game behind Seattle for the second AL wild-card spot. "These guys are enjoying a little bit of an underdog ride here, and we've been able to put together a little bit of a run."

The offense led the way for Minnesota, combining for 12 hits -- with Joe Mauer and Byron Buxton collecting three apiece. Jorge Polanco and Miguel Sano each picked up a pair as well, helping rookie left-hander Dietrich Enns settle in for his major league debut.

"I'm happy we got the win -- that's first and foremost," said Enns, who allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over 2 2/3 innings and also recorded his first big-league hit with a third-inning single. "There were a lot of emotions going into today. It was a dream come true."

Eleven of Minnesota's hits came at the expense of Milwaukee starter Zach Davies, who had been red hot coming into the game -- 6-1 with a 2.38 ERA over his last eight starts. He gave up seven runs (six earned), 11 hits and two walks, with three strikeouts, over 5 2/3 innings.

"I don't think Zach pitched poorly," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "He threw a ton of strikes. He was the victim of a bunch of balls in play that hurt him. They strung some hits together and put a couple of good innings on them.

"Offensively, it's just not enough. We have to step up here."

Milwaukee's offense has struggled since the All-Star break. The Brewers managed seven hits Thursday but just two of those came over the final 7 1/3 innings.

Minnesota opened the second inning with four straight hits against Davies to take a 2-0 lead and went up 3-0 when Jason Castro reached on an error later in the inning, allowing Buxton to score.

A two-out solo home run by Keon Broxton put Milwaukee on the board in the bottom of the second.

The Twins broke things open in the third with a pair of sacrifice flies and Buxton's second run-scoring single of the day.

Trouble finally found Enns in the third. A one-out error and two singles loaded the bases for Jesus Aguilar, who walked to make it a 6-2 game, bringing the rookie's night to an end.

"I thought I needed to make a move, minimize the damage and protect the lead we built over the first couple of innings," Molitor said.

Alan Busenitz (1-0) took over and got Manny Pina to ground into a double play, ending the threat. He worked another two innings, establishing a new career high, and kept Milwaukee off the board to earn his first major league victory.

Mauer tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single in the sixth.

"We had to go through a lot of bullpen arms, but the offense was there," Molitor said. "There's a lot of ways to get it done, and that adds to our collective confidence."

The Brewers have lost five in a row, one off their longest skid of the season, and now sit third in the NL Central -- two games behind the first-place Cubs and a game behind second-place St. Louis.

NOTES: LHP Dietrich Enns worked 2 2/3 innings in his big-league debut Thursday. Minnesota selected his contract from Triple-A Rochester earlier in the day. He was acquired in a July 30 trade that sent LHP Jaime Garcia to the New York Yankees. ... Brewers 3B Travis Shaw was back in the lineup, and he went 2-for-4. He missed the game Wednesday night while tending to family matters. ... Minnesota LHP Glen Perkins (shoulder) threw 11 pitches and allowed one hit in an inning during a rehab appearance for Double-A Chattanooga. ... The Brewers are optimistic that C Stephen Vogt will begin a rehab assignment this weekend. He has been out since July 18 with a knee injury.

Colon, Twins shut down Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- At 44 years old, Bartolo Colon can still put on a show.

Fresh off becoming the oldest player in major league history to throw a complete game, Colon added another chapter to his legacy Wednesday night with seven shutout innings in the Minnesota Twins' 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

"It was fun to watch," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I don't think you go into a game thinking Bartolo is going to give you seven zeros, but he kept making pitches."

In his first scoreless start since Sept. 16, 2016, when he was still with the New York Mets, Colon (2-1) scattered five hits and a walk while striking out five.

"He was in command," Molitor said. "You could tell by their swings. The ball running in on their hands on the backdoor sinker, and mixing in the change and the breaking ball. He has just had a really good feel lately of how to make pitches and what guys might be looking for and how to counter that."

Colon was 2-8 with an 8.14 ERA in 13 starts when the Atlanta Braves released him on June 29. In five starts since joining the Twins in mid-July, the veteran right-hander has a 4.02 ERA with just three walks in 31 1/3 innings.

"(I was) just mixing my pitches up." Colon said. "My first few starts I was throwing just the fastball. Now I am able to mix it up, and I think that is what is helping me."

The Twins' offense gave him just enough room to work comfortably. Brian Dozier homered for the second time in as many games. He went 3-for-4 and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Jorge Polanco added a pair of hits, including an RBI double that got the Twins on the board in the second inning.

Both Dozier's home run and Polanco's double came at the expense of Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who was making his second career start.

Woodruff (1-1) was charged with just two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three over 5 2/3 innings.

"I didn't have my best stuff," Woodruff said. "I think it was a night where I had to battle and just make some pitches when I had to, just try to give the team a good chance to win and go as deep as I could."

Jacob Barnes took over with two on and two outs in the sixth and ended the threat by retiring Polanco on a chopper back to the mound. After Barnes retired the first two batters in the seventh, Dozier doubled to the gap in left and Max Kepler reached on a walk to bring up Joe Mauer.

Barnes looked as if he might escape when Mauer ripped a grounder back up the middle, but second baseman Eric Sogard couldn't come up with the ball, and Dozier scored to make it a 3-0 game.

"It was a big play," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "It was a tough play up the middle, but it's a play he expects to make."

Miguel Sano was next, and he doubled through the hole at shortstop to put the Twins up 4-0. Barnes intentionally walked Rosario to load the bases, and Milwaukee turned to Carlos Torres, who got out of the inning without further damage by striking out Byron Buxton.

"Offensively, it was a good night," said Molitor, whose team earned its fourth win in a row and climbed within 4 1/2 games of the first-place Cleveland Indians in the American League Central.

The loss kept the Brewers from gaining a game on the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs, who lost earlier. Milwaukee (59-57) dropped into third place, percentage points behind the St. Louis Cardinals, for the first time since May 13.

NOTES: Minnesota placed LHP Adalberto Mejia on the 10-day disabled list with a left arm strain and recalled 1B/DH Kennys Vargas from Triple-A Rochester. Mejia was injured Tuesday night. He is 4-5 with a 4.47 ERA in 18 starts. ... Milwaukee was without 3B Travis Shaw, who was tending to a family matter, manager Craig Counsell said. Shaw's daughter has undergone multiple surgeries to correct a heart condition since she was born in June. ... Brewers C Stephen Vogt went through a series of on-field drills to test his injured left knee. Vogt has been out since injuring the knee in a collision at home plate on July 17.

Twins top Brewers with second straight comeback

(TSX / STATS) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell shifted his infield as he has done in many other situations. The runner on third wasn't going to matter to Counsell if reliever Oliver Drake got the batter out.

Minnesota Twins baserunner Eddie Rosario had free reign at third base, unchecked by any defender, so he bounced up and down the line trying to distract Drake.

Score one for Rosario and the Twins.

Rosario scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when Drake balked, and Minnesota went on for a 5-4 win against Milwaukee to begin the four-game, home-and-home series between border rivals.

"I was trying to have fun but at the same time play hard," Rosario said through a translator. "If you're going to leave me that much room to run, I'm going to take it."

Jorge Polanco had four hits as the Twins pulled off another comeback. Minnesota recovered from a 3-0 deficit a night after coming back from trailing by five runs in the first inning of a 6-5 win against the Texas Rangers.

In the seventh inning Monday, Rosario doubled over Brewers right fielder Domingo Santana's head to tie the game and provided the winning margin after Drake's balk.

"It's something that we try to teach," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "How much you can gamble or how much you can try to distract the pitcher depends on how much space you have. You put a lot of pressure on the guy even though he's out of the stretch when you're dangling 50, 60 feet down the line."

Drake (3-4) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings.

"It's one of those things I got to compose out there and be able to step off," Drake said. "He was jumping around the play before. Right there, it's huge if I can just make one pitch after that and get that guy out at the plate then it's a tie game and it's a completely different story. Balking in the winning run sucks."

Counsell kept his infield shifted to the right side for the lefty-hitting Jason Castro. With no defender near third base, Rosario extended his lead and faked going home, causing movement from Drake that led to plate umpire Bill Welke calling the balk.

Counsell argued with Welke, believing Drake didn't make a balk move.

"We shift quite a bit," Counsell said. "We've played in that spot. The runner's going to play around there. He's not going anywhere, and if anything, we could have had a conversation with Oliver about it. But credit to them for bouncing around, but that's the way it goes."

Minnesota reliever Buddy Boshers (1-0) retired the only batter he faced, getting Travis Shaw to bounce out with a runner on in the seventh. All-Star right-hander Ervin Santana started for the Twins and yielded four runs -- two earned -- in six innings.

Matt Belisle recorded his second consecutive save, and second of the season, as Minnesota's new closer. The Twins managed the win despite committing three errors, hitting 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 men on base.

"It was just one of those games where we had to stick with it," Molitor said. "We had to mix and match a little bit through the latter stages, but everyone did their job and we were able to take the first game of the four-game set."

Keon Broxton homered and drove in two runs for Milwaukee, which allowed more than two runs for the first time in five games.

Broxton's solo homer started the scoring in the third inning.

Minnesota gave the Brewers two more runs in that inning. Santana was hit by a pitch and Ryan Braun reached on an error. Shaw's single plated Santana, and Braun came around to score after center fielder Byron Buxton overran the ball for another error.

"I don't think we put together a big offensive night, necessarily," Counsell said. "We got some breaks to score those runs. It's a two-out error that gets us three unearned runs. But it was nice to take advantage of it, certainly. We swung the bats pretty good tonight."

NOTES: Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was out of the lineup for the third straight day as he deals with a left hand contusion. Sano underwent an MRI and CT scan on Monday, and the tests didn't show any additional damage after X-rays on Friday showed no broken bones from being hit in the hand by a pitch. ... Milwaukee RF Domingo Santana was back in the lineup a night after getting hit by a pitch in the wrist. Santana was then hit again in the third inning by a pitch from Twins RHP Ervin Santana. ... Minnesota 2B Brian Dozier was back in the lineup after being pulled from the Sunday game because of an illness. ... Brewers LF Ryan Braun had three hits and is now batting .333 in 50 career games against Minnesota. He owns an 11-game hitting streak against the Twins.

Brewers, Twins open home-and-home series

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- The Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins reconvene their border rivalry at Target Field on Monday with the two Midwestern teams trying to stay in playoff contention.

Milwaukee (59-54) left Tampa Bay on Sunday with a 2-1 loss, snapping a three-game winning streak, but didn't fall any further back in the National League Central after Chicago lost. The first-place Cubs lead the second-place Brewers by a half-game.

Minnesota (53-56) beat Texas 6-5 on Sunday to split a four-game series but couldn't gain any ground. The third-place Twins are six games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, 3 1/2 games back of the Kansas City Royals in the race for the second AL wild card.

Brent Suter (2-2, 3.04 ERA) starts for the Brewers on Monday with the Twins sending ace Ervin Santana (12-7, 3.28) to the mound. The clubs will meet again Tuesday at Target Field before squaring off Wednesday and Thursday in Milwaukee.

Pitching, for both teams, is the key to the push for the playoffs.

Milwaukee allowed just two runs in the three-game series in Tampa Bay, recording shutouts Friday and Saturday before a 23-innings scoreless streak ended Sunday.

"They've performed brilliantly," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "Our pitching staff is doing a great job, and we've gotta give them some more room for error. We can't expect them to be absolutely perfect, so we have to find a way to put some runs on the board and have some more room for error.

"But we couldn't ask for more out of the starters, they're doing an outstanding job."

Suter has helped Milwaukee's cause in his limited time as a starter. He is 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA in six starts since joining the rotation for the injured Chase Anderson. Suter, who has never faced Minnesota, took a loss in his last outing when he gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

It was the only time he allowed more than three runs in any of his seven starts this season. Yadier Molina hit two homers off Suter in the game.

"(Suter) was good, but Yadier Molina got him," Counsell said. "That was really the story of the game. Molina is the first hitter we've seen that has had a big game against him.

"I haven't looked at the pitches yet, but Molina did a nice job and got some pitches he could hit. Other than that, I thought it was a good Brent start. I thought he pitched really well and did his job."

As for the Twins, Minnesota starter Jose Berrios allowed two homers and five runs in the first inning Sunday before finishing with four scoreless frames. The bullpen followed with four scoreless innings before Matt Belisle recorded his first save since the final game of the 2012 season in Colorado.

"I think that game was kind of a testament to what we've done here all year," Belisle said. "I don't think there's any relent in this clubhouse. Nobody's ever giving up. We may get throttled sometimes, we may put it on some teams, but we've been tremendous -- I think you've all heard it -- of unhooking the trailer of yesterday, no matter what it is. We've also been very good at staying in the fight all nine innings."

Santana provided a pick-me-up to the Twins in his last outing. Minnesota had lost three games in a row and six of seven on a West Coast road trip when Santana toed the rubber in San Diego on Wednesday.

The All-Star right-hander proceeded to throw his fifth complete game of the season, more than any other team has compiled, leading the Twins to a 5-2 win. Santana also drove in two runs while hitting in the NL park.

"You look for your guys with track records and experience to step up when they can, and he got the chance today," Twins manager Paul Molitor told MLB.com after the game. "He was the starter, he was the middle man, he was the setup man, he was our closer and our clutch hitter. So a pretty good day for him and us."

Santana is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA in three career starts against the Brewers.

Brewers, Twins open home-and-home series

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- MINNEAPOLIS -- The Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins reconvene their border rivalry at Target Field on Monday with the two Midwestern teams trying to stay in playoff contention.

Milwaukee (59-54) left Tampa Bay on Sunday with a 2-1 loss, snapping a three-game winning streak, but didn't fall any further back in the National League Central after Chicago lost. The first-place Cubs lead the second-place Brewers by a half-game.

Minnesota (53-56) beat Texas 6-5 on Sunday to split a four-game series but couldn't gain any ground. The third-place Twins are six games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, 3 1/2 games back of the Kansas City Royals in the race for the second AL wild card.

Brent Suter (2-2, 3.04 ERA) starts for the Brewers on Monday with the Twins sending ace Ervin Santana (12-7, 3.28) to the mound. The clubs will meet again Tuesday at Target Field before squaring off Wednesday and Thursday in Milwaukee.

Pitching, for both teams, is the key to the push for the playoffs.

Milwaukee allowed just two runs in the three-game series in Tampa Bay, recording shutouts Friday and Saturday before a 23-innings scoreless streak ended Sunday.

"They've performed brilliantly," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "Our pitching staff is doing a great job, and we've gotta give them some more room for error. We can't expect them to be absolutely perfect, so we have to find a way to put some runs on the board and have some more room for error.

"But we couldn't ask for more out of the starters, they're doing an outstanding job."

Suter has helped Milwaukee's cause in his limited time as a starter. He is 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA in six starts since joining the rotation for the injured Chase Anderson. Suter, who has never faced Minnesota, took a loss in his last outing when he gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

It was the only time he allowed more than three runs in any of his seven starts this season. Yadier Molina hit two homers off Suter in the game.

"(Suter) was good, but Yadier Molina got him," Counsell said. "That was really the story of the game. Molina is the first hitter we've seen that has had a big game against him.

"I haven't looked at the pitches yet, but Molina did a nice job and got some pitches he could hit. Other than that, I thought it was a good Brent start. I thought he pitched really well and did his job."

As for the Twins, Minnesota starter Jose Berrios allowed two homers and five runs in the first inning Sunday before finishing with four scoreless frames. The bullpen followed with four scoreless innings before Matt Belisle recorded his first save since the final game of the 2012 season in Colorado.

"I think that game was kind of a testament to what we've done here all year," Belisle said. "I don't think there's any relent in this clubhouse. Nobody's ever giving up. We may get throttled sometimes, we may put it on some teams, but we've been tremendous -- I think you've all heard it -- of unhooking the trailer of yesterday, no matter what it is. We've also been very good at staying in the fight all nine innings."

Santana provided a pick-me-up to the Twins in his last outing. Minnesota had lost three games in a row and six of seven on a West Coast road trip when Santana toed the rubber in San Diego on Wednesday.

The All-Star right-hander proceeded to throw his fifth complete game of the season, more than any other team has compiled, leading the Twins to a 5-2 win. Santana also drove in two runs while hitting in the NL park.

"You look for your guys with track records and experience to step up when they can, and he got the chance today," Twins manager Paul Molitor told MLB.com after the game. "He was the starter, he was the middle man, he was the setup man, he was our closer and our clutch hitter. So a pretty good day for him and us."

Santana is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA in three career starts against the Brewers.

Souza's walk-off homer lifts Rays over Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- For the first time in more than three years, the Tampa Bay Rays got a walk-off home run to celebrate.

Knotted in a 1-1 tie and facing a potential sweep, Rays outfielder Steven Souza Jr. sent a solo shot to left field for a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at Tropicana Field.

"We were just trying to piece together some good at-bats," said Souza, who recorded his first career walk-off home run. "Unfortunately, this series, we couldn't get that big knock, but it was great right there to come through."

Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson held the Rays in check for eight innings, but Souza took the second pitch from reliever Jacob Barnes (3-3) and sent it over the wall in left field. It is the first career walk-off home run for Souza, and the Rays' first walk-off homer since May 2014, which was the longest active streak in baseball at 277 home games.

"That's what it was going to take," Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Souza's game-winning home run. "We weren't piecing together anything, I can promise you that. We tried that for three days and failed, so it was going to take somebody leaving the ballpark."

The Rays (58-55) avoided a series sweep after being shut out on Friday and Saturday. Tommy Hunter (1-0) got the win in relief after getting out of a two-on, no-out jam in the top of the ninth.

The Brewers (59-54) continued their batting woes and fell just short of the sweep. The home run was Souza's 24th of the season and just the sixth hit of the game for the Rays.

"It was a tough game. Their guys pitched well, too," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "I wouldn't say it's a wasted start. It's a great start. He pitched really well. These guys have been pitching in situations where they've got no room for error. He executed it beautifully."

Rays starter Chris Archer held the Brewers to one hit in the first five innings, clinging to a 1-0 lead until Orlando Arcia, continuing a strong series, hit a solo home run to left to tie the game. Arcia had a triple and home run and scored both runs in a 2-0 win Friday, and drove in the first run in a 3-0 win Saturday.

Archer followed the home run with a walk to Travis Shaw and single by Ryan Braun, putting two on with one out. He struck out Jesus Aguilar, misplayed a comebacker for an error to load the bases, then struck out Hernan Perez with the bases loaded to end the inning.

"We had a couple of opportunities, and like a lot in this streak, we're missing the opportunities and not getting the big hit," Counsell said.

The Rays, shut out by Milwaukee on Friday and Saturday, ended a 21-inning scoreless streak in the second inning Sunday. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs, and a run scored as Wilson Ramos hit into a double play. Nelson struck out Mallex Smith with a runner at third to end the inning with only one run allowed.

Milwaukee lost a starter early for the second straight game -- right fielder Domingo Santana was hit by a pitch in the first inning and had to leave the game with a right wrist contusion. Perez replaced him in right field, and Shaw, who left Saturday's game after a throw from home hit him in the neck as he stole second, replaced Perez at third.

NOTES: The Rays made a minor trade during Sunday's game, sending RHP Ryan Garton and C Mike Marjama to Seattle in exchange for two prospects, LHP Anthony Misiewicz and INF/OF Luis Rengifo. Garton has pitched in 44 games over the last two seasons with a 1-3 record and 5.26 ERA. Marjama was hitting .272 with nine home runs for Triple-A Durham. Misiewicz, 22, is 8-5 with a 4.75 ERA and 117 strikeouts as a starter at Class A Modesto and Double-A Arkansas, while Rengifo, 20, hit .250 with 11 home runs for Class A Clinton. ... Brewers 3B Travis Shaw, who left Saturday's game after a throw from home hit him in the neck as he was stealing second, returned to the lineup Sunday, taking over at third in the first inning after another mid-game injury, this time to RF Domingo Santana. Hernan Perez moved from third base to right field.

Davies, Brewers keep Rays under wraps

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Stellar pitching is keeping the Milwaukee Brewers right on the Chicago Cubs' tail in the National League Central.

Zach Davies threw seven dominating innings of one-hit baseball and the Brewers shut out the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight night, winning 3-0 on Saturday at Tropicana Field.

"Zach was really flawless. He was outstanding," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said after the Brewers got back-to-back road shutouts for the first time since 2010. "He got through seven innings in a really efficient way ... He pitched beautifully. He had four pitches working, four real weapons he can use to get outs with."

Hernan Perez hit a solo home run in the ninth for separation in what had been a 1-0 game, and Milwaukee (59-53) handcuffed Tampa Bay's hitters as it did in Friday's series opener. The Rays (57-55), held scoreless in their last 20 innings, were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since April 2016, against the Indians and White Sox.

"Needless to say, the offense has gone a little bit quiet," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "(Davies) had a feel for every single thing he threw out of his hand and made it challenging."

The Cubs also won Saturday, so the Brewers remain a half-game back of the division leaders.

Davies (13-5) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and when Lucas Duda finally broke through with a single. Davies immediately followed by getting Evan Longoria to ground into a double play.

The Rays had a runner at third with one out in the fifth after a throwing error by Perez, but catcher Jesus Sucre lined out to center to end the inning.

Rather than use closer Corey Knebel on back-to-back nights, Milwaukee had Anthony Swarzak pitch the ninth for his first save with the Brewers and his second this season.

The Rays had a chance in the eighth inning against reliever Jacob Barnes, with Adeiny Hechavarria leading off with a single and Sucre following with a one-out bloop single. A throwing error by catcher Manny Pina put runners at second and third with one out, but Corey Dickerson struck out.

"He made a huge pitch to get the strikeout right after it," Counsell said. "Dickerson's a hitter that is able to put his bat on a lot of balls. He got one down and nasty enough to get a swing and miss."

Duda was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Longoria, but he popped out to center field to end the inning.

The Rays spoiled a quality start by Alex Cobb (9-8), who pitched six innings, holding the Brewers to one run. Reliever Ryan Stanek had four strikeouts in the seventh and eighth, but stayed in too long, giving up the home run to Perez -- his 12th of the season.

Stanek then gave up a single and walk to put two on with no outs, but Jose Alvarado -- who struck out the side in nine pitches in the ninth Friday -- fanned Jonathan Villar and Orlando Arcia. He was a strike away from getting out of the inning, but his wild pitch allowed Aguilar to score to make it 3-0.

For the second night in a row, the Brewers held to a 1-0 lead in a pitchers' duel.

Davies allowed only one baserunner in the first four innings -- a second-inning walk to Brad Miller. Miller reached on an error in the fifth, and the Rays had runners at first and third after a walk, but Davies got Sucre to line out to center to end the inning.

Milwaukee's only run off Cobb came on an RBI double by Arcia in the third inning, scoring Keon Broxton, who had singled.

Milwaukee had five hits, but Cobb kept the Rays close, striking out six batters in the first five innings.

"Alex grinded his way through six innings, one run," Cash said. "That's funny to say, because you'll take that start any day of the week. Alex wasn't as sharp, but credit him a lot for keeping it right there. We just couldn't get the big hit."

Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw, who leads the team with 74 RBIs, had to leave Saturday's game after he was hit in the side of the neck by a throw from home as he tried to steal second base.

Shaw stole second base, but Sucre's throw knocked his helmet off as he slid into the base. Shortstop Hechavarria's glove also hit him in the side of the face as the throw came in. Shaw stayed down for several minutes as trainers attended to him. He walked off the field slowly but on his own, and was replaced by Perez, who pinch-ran for him and took over at third base.

Counsell said that tests were all clear for Shaw, who has a neck contusion, feeling a little stiff and is considered day-to-day.

NOTES: Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi, on the disabled list since July 25 with a lower back strain, will be activated and rejoin the rotation to start Wednesday when the Rays face the Red Sox. ... Rays rookie RHP Austin Pruitt, who picked up the win in Wednesday's shutout victory against the Astros, will start Tuesday's game against Boston. ... Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff, who won in Friday's series opener, became the 19th pitcher in franchise history to win in his major league debut, and just the fifth Brewer to throw a scoreless start in his debut. The last? Chris Saenz in 2004. ... Counting Saturday's game, the Brewers have played the Rays only 11 times, the fewest times Milwaukee has faced any major league team.

Arcia scores twice; Brewers blank Rays 2-0

(TSX / STATS) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Rookie pitcher Brandon Woodruff was superb in his major league debut, and Orlando Arcia did everything else for the Milwaukee Brewers, scoring both runs in a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night at Tropicana Field.

"He had a heck of a game -- he was the offense tonight, and he was the defense tonight," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after Arcia -- No. 9 hitter in his lineup -- had three of Milwaukee's five hits, including a triple and home run.

Woodruff (1-0) got out of early jams and threw 6 1/3 shutout innings against a team that had just won three straight against the Houston Astros.

"He certainly worked hard for the first two innings, but the composure and the way he went about it, making pitches in stressful situations early in the game in your first big-league start is something that leaves me really impressed," Counsell said.

Milwaukee (58-53) won without much help from their bats for the second straight game and Tampa Bay (57-54) spoiled a solid start from rookie Jake Faria (5-2).

Brewers closer Corey Knebel pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save, getting all three outs by strikeout.

Arcia added an insurance run in the eighth with a home run -- his 10th of the season -- off reliever Sergio Romo, extending the lead to 2-0.

Milwaukee won despite being held to five hits by Tampa Bay pitching, but the Rays left 11 runners on base.

The Rays nearly tied the score in the seventh with a two-out rally against rookie reliever Josh Hader.

Corey Dickerson, who had walked, tried to score on a double to left field by Evan Longoria, but the throw and Arcia's relay home got there first and catcher Manny Pina tagged him out to preserve the 1-0 lead.

Friday's win was Milwaukee's sixth shutout of the season. The Rays have been blanked six times this year.

"Their guy, he was impressive. He got in some jams early on, made some pitches where we couldn't get that big hit for some reason," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.

The Brewers led 1-0 after five innings thanks to Woodruff. He was scheduled to make his debut in June but was scratched with a hamstring injury and spent six weeks on the disabled list.

Woodruff got himself into and out of trouble in the early innings -- the Rays had the bases loaded in the first two innings -- but he got a comebacker from Brad Miller to end the first and a groundout by Longoria to escape the second unscathed.

The Rays had runners at the corners with no outs in the third but again couldn't convert, with Steven Souza caught in a rundown between first and second to end the inning.

Tampa Bay got the leadoff man on again in the fourth, but Mallex Smith was picked off by Woodruff to erase another runner.

Milwaukee couldn't muster much at the plate against Faria, who held them to four hits and struck out nine in six innings. Arcia led off the third with a triple and scored on Eric Thames' single to right field, providing the only run through five innings.

"He did everything he could to keep it right there close," Cash said of Faria. "That's the way it goes. The bats went a little bit quiet tonight."

Woodruff's solid debut came after a rough patch in the minors -- he had gone 1-5 in his last 10 starts with a 6.69 ERA, winning only once since May 7 while missing about half of that time with injury.

NOTES: The Rays made several roster moves, activating INF Daniel Robertson from the 10-day disabled list (neck spasms). The optioned INF Taylor Featherston and LHP Blake Snell to Triple-A Durham and recalled LHP Jose Alvarado to help the bullpen, which was used extensively in three straight wins against the Astros. Snell, winless in 14 starts in two stints with the Rays, is at risk of losing his spot in the rotation in the final two months of the season. Robertson gave SS Adeiny Hechavarria a night off, batting ninth. ... The Brewers placed C Jett Bandy on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured rib, recalling C Andrew Susac from Triple-A Colorado Springs. They also optioned top prospect and OF Lewis Brinson to Colorado Springs to make room for starter Brandon Woodruff, who made his major-league debut.

Rays have momentum heading into series with Brewers

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Led by a bullpen bolstered by three trades at the deadline, the Tampa Bay Rays bring a three-game winning streak into their return home for a three-game series against the slumping Milwaukee Brewers.

The teams have matching 57-53 records but enter with different momentum. The Rays are coming off a 4-4 trip but, more immediately, three straight wins against the Astros, including a 5-3 comeback win Thursday.

The Brewers, even with a 2-1 win Thursday against the Cardinals, are 5-12 in their last 17 games, allowing the Cubs to take control of their division.

"In this stretch, we can point to every player and say, 'We'd like more,'" Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Thursday. "That's what happens when you get into team-wide run-scoring droughts. It's been a dry stretch."

The Brewers have scored three runs or less in each of their last three wins, while the Rays are getting scoring at the plate and stellar relief. In their three wins in Houston, the bullpen combined for 10 2/3 innings of scoreless, three-hit relief, including five innings in Thursday's win.

"Can't say enough about the way the team responded after three really tough days to start the trip," Rays manager Kevin Cash said, referring to tough losses at the Yankees. "To be able to come in here and find a way to win a four-game series, three out of four, speaks volumes about the club."

This comes after the Rays made three deadline trades to help their bullpen -- adding Dan Jennings from the Chicago White Sox, Steve Cishek from the Seattle Mariners and Sergio Romo from the Los Angeles Dodgers -- in addition to Lucas Duda, who had three home runs in his first six games after being acquired from the New York Mets.

Friday's series opener features a pair of promising 24-year-olds. The Rays' Jake Faria has been dominant, with a 5-1 record and 2.93 ERA in 10 starts, with Tampa Bay going 8-2 in those starts. He has a 5.51 ERA in his last three starts, but the Rays have given him wins in two of those starts anyway. Faria makes his first start against a National League opponent to open the interleague series.

Milwaukee answers with the major league debut of righty Brandon Woodruff, who was to make his debut in June but injured his hamstring before his first pitch and missed six weeks on the disabled list. Woodruff, rated among the Brewers' top prospects, is 6-5 with a 4.46 ERA this season for Triple-A Colorado Springs; but, in his last 10 starts, he's 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA.

The Brewers are now 1 1/2 games behind the Cubs for the division lead but 5 1/2 games back in the wild-card race. The Rays are in better shape, just a half-game out of the wild card and 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees for the first wild card in the American League.

Aguilar's blast helps Brewers edge Cardinals

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- When Keon Broxton returned earlier in the week from a brief minor league assignment, some in Milwaukee wondered why the streaky and slumping Broxton was getting playing time ahead of top prospect Lewis Brinson.

Broxton reminded those naysayers of his value Thursday, reaching over the wall to pull back a potential home run, then driving in the eventual winning run with a two-out single as the Brewers won just their second series since the All-Star break with a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park.

"It was awesome to come out today, do something for the team to help these guys out and put ourselves in a position to win," Broxton said. "I'm just trying to make plays. That's my job."

It helped make a winner out of right-hander Matt Garza, who worked into the sixth inning after coming off the disabled list earlier in the day and held St. Louis to a run on four hits and two walks while striking out four over 5 2/3 innings of work.

"Our job is to keep the runs off the board," Garza (5-5) said. "When we do give them up, we hope our offense picks us up. We're in a bit of an offensive rut right now but that's OK; our starters have been doing our job, our bullpen is shortening things up."

Michael Wacha went four innings for St. Louis, allowing one run -- a solo homer by Jesus Aguilar in the third -- on five hits and three walks while striking out five.

"The home run to Aguilar hurt him," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "He was 0-2 and worked to 3-2. What we've seen is he has been able to get to those counts and then put them away. You are just going to have that some days where they are not chasing the high fastball and not chasing the slow stuff below the zone."

Aguilar's 11th home run of the season provided an early lead as Garza retired 11 of his first 12 batters. He finally ran into trouble in the fifth with a pair of walks to open the inning. Garza struck out Stephen Piscotty for the first out and Greg Garcia followed with an RBI single off the glove of second baseman Hernan Perez, tying the game at 1, but Garza escaped when pinch hitter Luke Voit chopped into a double play to end the inning.

"That was huge," Garza said. "Garcia, (hit it) right outside of Hernan's glove. That would have saved a run. But being able to bounce-back, we regrouped got the ground ball from Voit to get out of the inning."

Lefty Brett Cecil (1-4) replaced Wacha to open the fifth. He got off to a good start by striking out Domingo Santana and Aguilar but Milwaukee followed with three straight singles and went ahead on Broxton's base hit.

"He got two quick strikeouts and the next thing you know three singles in a row," Matheny said. "He was making really good pitches."

Jacob Barnes took over for Garza with two on and two outs in the sixth and ended the threat by getting Yadier Molina to fly out to center. Barnes erased a leadoff walk in the sixth with an inning-ending double play and Anthony Swarzak preserved the lead with a scoreless eighth.

The Cardinals threatened in the ninth, putting the go-ahead run on with two out but Corey Knebel struck out Garcia to record his 20th save of the season.

The victory marked the first time the Brewers took a series from the Cardinals at Miller Park since 2012.

NOTES: C Jett Bandy is headed to the disabled list with a fractured rib, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ... Counsell announced that RHP Brandon Woodruff would start Friday at Tampa in his major league debut. ... RHP Wily Peralta and OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis cleared waivers and accepted outright assignments to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Thursday. Milwaukee designated both for assignment over the last week. ... Cardinals CF Dexter Fowler (strained arm) has resumed baseball activities back in St. Louis and will rejoin the team when it visits Cincinnati this weekend, manager Mike Matheny said. ... 1B Matt Carpenter returned to the Cardinals' lineup Thursday. He was a late scratch a night earlier because of a sore hip. ... The Cardinals are 17-21 in one-ruin games this season.