Milwaukee Brewers vs Colorado Rockies Match Player Stats On Aug 19, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 19, 2017

DENVER -- Pinch hitter Jesus Aguilar hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning Saturday night, highlighting a three-run uprising that gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 6-3 victory over the Coloardo Rockies.

Aguilar connected for his 12th homer off Rockies closer Greg Holland (2-4) on a 3-2 slider. It was the sixth straight slider of the at-bat, and Aguilar drove it an estimated 449 feet over the fence in center.

With one out, Holland hit Keon Broxton in the back with an 0-2 pitch. Broxton moved to third on a ground out, setting the stage for Aguilar, who is 14-for-46 with three home runs and 10 RBIs as a pinch hitter.

Holland then walked Eric Thames, who stole second and scored on a single by Neil Walker that ended Holland's outing. He had allowed three homers in 44 innings in his previous 46 appearances.

Anthony Swarzak (2-0) pitched the eighth ahead of closer Corey Knebel, who earned his 25th save in 30 opportunities.

Despite their eighth loss in 12 games, the Rockies remained one game ahead of Arizona in the National League wild-card race. The Brewers are 3 1/2 behind the Diamondbacks.

Rockies starter Chad Bettis again pitched extremely well for the Rockies in his second start since recovering from cancer, again without figuring in the decision.

He pitched seven innings, just as he did Monday in his 2017 debut. But one inning was costly to Bettis. He gave up three runs -- all in the third -- and eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts in his efficient 92-pitch outing that included 64 strikes and nine outs on ground balls.

Milwaukee scored against Bettis on Thames' triple, Ryan Braun's sacrifice fly and Travis Shaw's home run.

Bettis underwent surgery in November for testicular cancer. While fully participating in spring training in early March, Bettis learned the cancer had spread, forcing him to undergo nine weeks of chemotherapy.

Charlie Blackmon grounded a run-scoring single to left with one out in the seventh, cutting Milwaukee's lead to 3-2. The hit scored Trevor Story, who led off with a double, and finished left-hander Josh Hader, who came on after starter Brandon Woodruff gave up one run in 4 2/3 innings.

Blackmon stole second with Jacob Barnes pitching to DJ LeMahieu, who hit a soft single to center that scored Blackmon to tie the game. Nolan Arenado lined a single to right, sending LeMahieu to third. But the Rockies were unable to cash in a fourth run as Gerardo Parra struck out on three pitches, and Mark Reynolds flied to the edge of the warning track in left.

Bettis’ scoreless streak to start his season ended at nine innings when the Brewers took a 3-0 lead in the third. Woodruff led off with a single on an 0-2 fastball, his first major league hit. He chugged around the bases after Thames' drive to the gap in right-center got past center fielder Blackmon, who seemed to slow up with right fielder Carlos Gonzalez also coming toward the ball.

Braun hit a sacrifice fly to medium deep center as hames scored easily because Blackmon’s throw home was far off line. Shaw followed with his 27th home run, launching Bettis’ 1-0 curveball into the Rockies’ bullpen in right-center.

Jonathan Lucroy flared a run-scoring single to short center with one out in the fourth to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 3-1 and put runners on the corners. But Woodruff struck out Story and Bettis.

NOTES: Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela will start Wednesday at Kansas City, taking the turn of Jeff Hoffman, who was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Brewers RF Domingo Santana, who has 10 hits in his past 68 at-bats, was given a rest day. ... Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff went 2-for-2 with two singles, his first hits in the majors. ... Brewers 3B Travis Shaw has hit 16 of his 27 home runs on the road.