Brewers drop series finale in final game in Oakland, 4-3

Milwaukee is unable to complete the sweep in the team’s last game at the Coliseum

Box Score

The Milwaukee Brewers dropped their series finale in Oakland on Sunday afternoon, in what is very likely the team’s last series against the Athletics at the Coliseum.

The first inning went by quickly, as William Contreras was the only player to reach for either team on a two-out walk. The Brewers struck first against rookie starter Joey Estes, as Sal Frelick hit a one-out single before Gary Sánchez hit a homer on a line drive over the left field wall to make it 2-0.

Frankie Montas was perfect through three innings on the hill, picking up four strikeouts in the process, but things quickly went south in the fourth inning, as he allowed three straight singles to load the bases with no outs. He then walked Shea Langeliers for the first run of the game for Oakland, though it came with a few questionable calls behind the plate, including on the 3-2 pitch.

After a mound visit from Chris Hook, Montas allowed another single to Seth Brown to tie it up at 2-2 with the bases still loaded and no outs. Montas was able to induce a pair of sacrifice flies which allowed two more runs to score to make it 4-2 before the inning was over.

After a quiet fifth and sixth, Willy Adames greeted reliever Grant Holman with a solo shot over the left field wall on a skyscraper that seemed like it was in the air forever and Daz Cameron had a chance to catch at the fence. The homer cut the deficit to 4-3 but the Brewers still had work to do.

Sánchez drew a one-out walk and was pinch run for, though Garrett Mitchell was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.

Milwaukee had another chance to strike in the eighth, as Brice Turang hit a single before advancing to second on what should have been a double-play ball but instead ended up as a strange 1-6-3 putout after pitcher Tyler Ferguson nearly threw the ball into center field. That was the end of the afternoon for Ferguson as electric closer Mason Miller entered for the four-out save.

Miller got Contreras to popout to end the eighth and set the Crew down 1-2-3 in the ninth to secure the win and avoid a sweep.

Montas and the rest of the pitching staff were solid outside of that fourth inning. Montas went six innings and allowed four runs on five hits and a pair of walks with seven strikeouts. Aaron Ashby took the seventh and eighth innings for Pat Murphy, allowing just one baserunner via a walk while striking out two.

The Brewers’ offense collected just four hits, and Sánchez was the only player to reach more than once on his homer and walk.

After an off day Monday, the Brewers return to action at home for a short three-game homestand with the Giants beginning Tuesday night. Tobias Myers starts in that one opposite Logan Webb, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m.