Burnes shines as Brewers top Giants 2-1 to open doubleheader

Thu, Sep 8, 2022
MLB News (AP)

Burnes shines as Brewers top Giants 2-1 to open doubleheader

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Corbin Burnes struck out 14 and allowed three hits in eight shutout innings as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 in the opening game of a doubleheader Thursday.

Burnes entered Thursday having allowed 17 earned runs in 21 innings over his last four starts, causing his ERA to rise from 2.39 to 3.02. He broke out of that mini-slump against the Giants while showcasing the form that enabled him to win the NL Cy Young Award last season.

Burnes struck out 10 or more batters for the ninth time this season to tie the Brewers' single-season record set by Ben Sheets in 2004.

Burnes (10-6) also holds the franchise record for double-digit strikeout games with 21.

His 14 strikeouts were one off his career high. Burnes had 15 strikeouts in a 10-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 11, 2021.

Burnes needed to be at his best to outduel San Francisco's Jakob Junis (4-5), who struck out four and allowed three hits, two runs and two walks in six innings. Junis entered in the second inning, relieving opener Scott Alexander.

The Giants opened the scoring in the third inning as LaMonte Ward hit a two-out single and came home on Mike Yastrzemski's double to right-center.

Burnes retired the next 13 batters, striking out eight of them, before David Villar opened the eighth with an infield single. Burnes got out of the eighth when Luis Gonzalez grounded into a double play and Joey Bart lined to short.

Devin Williams retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his 11th save in 12 opportunities.

Burnes didn't walk a batter, although he hit one.

After not putting a runner on base in the first three innings, the Brewers broke through with two runs in the fourth.

Jace Peterson led off with a pinch-hit single, stole second and scored on Christian Yelich's double to left center. Hunter Renfroe followed with a ground-rule double into the left-field corner to bring home Yelich.

This one-day visit from the Giants was a result of the 99-day lockout.

The Giants and Brewers were supposed to play a three-game series at Milwaukee in early April, but the games were rescheduled when the lockout delayed the start of the season. The Giants won 4-2 in a single game at Milwaukee in April 25.

SIBLING RIVALRIES

This doubleheader has two sets of brothers facing off.

Giants reliever Tyler Rogers and Brewers reliever Taylor Rogers are identical twins. San Francisco's Scott Alexander is the older brother of Brewers right-hander Jason Alexander.

Jason Alexander is the Brewers' scheduled starter Friday, so he was unlikely to pitch in Thursday's doubleheader.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last time two sets of brothers played against each other in the same game was Aug. 6, 1977, when St. Louis' Hector Cruz and Bob Forsch and Houston's Jose Cruz and Ken Forsch all played in a game the Cardinals won 3-1. Elias' records only accounted for instances in which all four siblings saw action in the game.

TRAINER'S ROOM

RHP Justin Topa was designated as the Brewers' 29th man for the doubleheader. Topa hadn't pitched in the majors since Sept. 3, 2021, as he recovered from a third elbow surgery. ... The Brewers also reinstated INF Mike Brosseau (right oblique) from the injured list and optioned OF Esteury Ruiz to Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

Giants: Stay on the road to begin a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. Scheduled starters Friday are LHP Carlos Rodon (12-7, 2.92 ERA) for the Giants and LHP Drew Smyly (5-8, 3.84) for the Cubs.

Brewers: Stay home to start a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. Jason Alexander (2-2, 5.03) starts for the Brewers on Friday with LHP Nick Lodolo (3-5, 3.95) pitching for the Reds. ___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Article Copyright © 2022 The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
SportsInformationTraders.com