Brewers rebound in series finale with 6-2 win over Marlins

Brice Turang highlighted the day with excellent plays on offense and defense

Box Score

After losing two straight to the Marlins to start the homestand, the Brewers needed a good day to avoid the sweep. It was set up for a good day, with Devin Williams activated from the injured list before the game. The day also started with a ceremony for Ryan Braun, who was added to the Brewers Walk of Fame. While the game didn’t look good to start, the Brewers made sure it would end with a win.

The Brewers faced a deficit very early. On the first pitch of the day from Tobias Myers, Xavier Edwards hit a home run to right field, and the Brewers were down 1-0. It didn’t get better quickly as Bryan De La Cruz doubled two pitches later. Two batters later, Myers hit Jake Burger with a pitch. However, Myers settled in from there. He struck out the side to finish the inning and keep it at a 1-0 deficit.

That would be the only Brewers deficit of the day. Brice Turang started the day for the offense with a single. Two batters later, Jake Bauers came up with Turang at second. Bauers hit the first pitch he saw out of the park with a no-doubt home run, putting the Brewers up 2-1.

The Brewers had a chance to tack on some runs in the second. Rhys Hoskins started the inning with a walk, and Garrett Mitchell singled to put two runners on base. Hoskins got to third, but the Brewers stranded both runners on base. That loomed a little as Myers got into trouble in the third. He walked Edwards to start the inning, and De La Cruz singled to put two runners on base. After the Brewers got Edwards at third on a Josh Bell groundout, Myers hit Burger with another pitch to load the bases. That’s where Turang stepped in. In what may be the core of his Gold Glove highlight reel, he made back-to-back diving catches and kept the Marlins off the board.

From there, the Brewers offense started to add on. In the bottom of the fourth, Hoskins singled and Mitchell doubled to put two runners on base with one out. Joey Ortiz brought in Hoskins on an RBI single. Two batters later, Turang complemented his defense with some offense, adding in his own RBI single. That put the Brewers up 4-1.

They kept adding on in the fifth inning. Jackson Chourio led off the inning with a solo home run, increasing the lead to 5-1. Bauers followed that up with a triple, and Hoskins brought him in with a sacrifice fly. The Brewers had a 6-1 lead after five innings.

That was more than enough to back up the pitching staff. Tobias Myers ended up with a short start, only pitching four innings on 75 pitches. It wasn’t his best day, though his only run allowed was the solo home run to lead off the game. He allowed three hits and a walk, and also hit three batters with pitches. He did add on five strikeouts to his day.

Jakob Junis took the fifth and sixth innings to start out of the bullpen. He allowed two hits, but that was it. He also added on a strikeout. Joel Payamps took the seventh and ended up allowing a run. Edwards tripled with one out, and De La Cruz brought him in on a groundout. Hoby Milner got the eighth and had a clean inning, striking out two in the process.

That set up the return of Devin Williams in the ninth inning. It started out well with Williams getting a groundout from Nick Gordon to start the inning. Williams followed that up with a strikeout of Forrest Wall. From there, it got a little tense. Edwards hit a ground ball and he just beat the throw from Willy Adames for an infield single. It also was the final piece of a cycle for Edwards, who went 4-for-4 with a home run, walk, double, triple, and single. Williams followed that with a walk to De La Cruz, then worked a full count to Bell. It ended with a more routine play from Turang, who fielded a ground ball and threw to first to secure the win and finish up Williams’ first appearance of the season.

The Brewers offense combined for nine hits in the game. Turang, Bauers, and Mitchell all had two-hit days. Bauers was the lone Brewer with multiple RBI and runs scored. Overall it was a balanced day for the offense, with seven of the nine starters reaching base at least once. They were also 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position, leaving six on base.

It’s an NL East homestand for the Brewers as the Atlanta Braves come into town next. Colin Rea will face Grant Holmes to kick off the series. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. Monday night.