Field Level Media
Aug 31, 2018
Travis Shaw, Erik Kratz and Jesus Aguilar all homered, and Jhoulys Chacin added to his recent string of good starts as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Washington Nationals 4-1 Friday night at Nationals Park.
Shaw, Kratz and Aguilar homered in the first, second and third innings, respectively, and gave the Brewers four quick runs and an early lead against Tanner Roark (8-14). Milwaukee entered the game ranked second in the National League in homers, and the Brewers showed Roark some of that power.
Those three homers backed Chacin (14-5), who went 6 1/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits. He has won four of his past five decisions.
Jeremy Jeffress closed it in the ninth and earned his eighth save by escaping a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the midst of a downpour.
Roark battled past those early power issues and still made it through six innings. He gave up the four runs of six hits.
Shaw started everything by golfing a two-out, two-run homer in the first that gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead. It was his 27th home run of the season.
Washington loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first, but Chacin gave up just one run, which scored when Anthony Rendon grounded into a force play.
The Brewers turned their power bats loose again in the next two innings. Kratz hit his fifth homer, a solo shot, in the second that made it 3-1, and Aguilar did the same thing in the third, launching his 31st of the season.
That gave Milwaukee a 4-1 lead, and neither team scored after that. Aguilar nearly homered in the first, flying deep to center right before Shaw belted his home run.
Washington missed on numerous chances, finishing 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position and stranding 12.
In addition, the Nationals and Brewers each made some moves on Friday.
Washington sent relief pitcher Ryan Madson to the Dodgers for a minor league pitcher and traded starter Gio Gonzalez to Milwaukee for two minor-leaguers.
The Brewers also acquired relief pitcher Xavier Cedeno from the White Sox for two minor-leaguers.
--Field Level Media