Gurriel’s tiebreaking homer in sixth inning helps Diamondbacks beat Brewers 7-4

AP

MILWAUKEE (AP) Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tiebreaking homer in his return from the injured list as the Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back after blowing a four-run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Friday night.

The Diamondbacks moved into sole possession of the NL’s second wild-card spot by taking a one-game lead over the New York Mets, who lost 12-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Atlanta Braves, who lost 4-3 at Miami, are three games behind the Diamondbacks and two games behind the Mets.

“It’s a good feeling, but we’ve got eight more games to go,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “No deal is done. We’ve got to go out and play our best baseball from here on out.”

Milwaukee already has clinched the NL Central title.

Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit his 33rd homer – setting a new career high – and also doubled and singled. William Contreras went 4 for 5 with a homer and Garrett Mitchell and Joey Ortiz also went deep for the Brewers.

Milwaukee rallied from a 4-0 deficit by homering off Arizona ace Zac Gallen (13-6) three times in a four-run fifth inning before the Diamondbacks took the lead for good in the sixth.

Gurriel led off the sixth by connecting on a 1-1 pitch from DL Hall (1-2) and hitting it over the wall in left center. Gurriel had been activated from the injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a strained left calf.

“It’s always a great thing after the opposite team comes and scores a few runs, if you come back and – boom – hit them back, it will shut down their momentum and actually pick up momentum on our side,” Gurriel said through a translator.

His homer started a three-run rally that culminated with Randal Grichuk drawing a bases-loaded, two-out walk from Jared Koenig. Grichuk took a 3-2 pitch low to bring home Gabriel Moreno.

“You don’t win when you give up seven,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “That’s not who we’ve been.”

Rhys Hoskins and Sal Frelick opened the bottom of the sixth with consecutive singles to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kevin Ginkel retired the next three batters to keep the score at 7-4. The Brewers got the tying run to the plate but failed to score again in the seventh.

A.J. Puk worked the ninth for his third save in six opportunities.

The Brewers had gotten back into the game in the fifth by pouncing on Gallen, who hadn’t allowed more than two homers in any of his previous 26 starts this season. He entered Friday having given up a total of two homers over his last 11 starts.

Ortiz hit a one-out drive to left-center that traveled 416 feet. After Brice Turang grounded out, Jackson Chourio beat out an infield single and Contreras followed with a 409-foot homer to center. Mitchell sent Gallen’s next pitch over the wall in left center for a game-tying, 393-foot blast.

It was the first time the Brewers had homered three times in an inning since Rowdy Tellez, Brian Anderson and Mitchell went deep against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in the sixth inning of a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets on April 4, 2023. Gallen hadn’t allowed three homers in a game since a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of last year’s NL Championship Series.

Gallen gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings while striking out five and walking one.

Brewers starter Colin Rea gave up three runs and five hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Gurriel was playing his first game since Sept. 1. The Diamondbacks made room for him by designating INF Luis Guillorme for assignment.

BREWERS’ MOVE

The Brewers designated RHP Enoli Paredes for assignment and promoted RHP Kevin Herget from Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.00 ERA) pitches for the Diamondbacks and RHP Aaron Civale (7-8, 4.48) starts for the Brewers when this four-game series continues Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

123456789RHE
Diamondbacks86-681200130007120
Brewers88-660000400004120
  • American Family FieldMilwaukee, WI
  • W: Z. Gallen (13-6)L: D. Hall (1-2)S: A. Puk (3)
  • HR: ARI – K. Marte (32), L. Gurriel (17), MIL – J. Ortiz (10), G. Mitchell (7), W. Contreras (22)

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Diamondbacks

Brewers

HITTERSABRHRBIAVG
C. Carroll CF-RF4002.231
K. Marte 2B4132.293
J. Pederson DH3010.279
a- R. Grichuk PH-DH1001.287
C. Walker 1B5000.255
L. Gurriel LF3221.276
J. McCarthy PR-CF1000.286
P. Smith RF-LF5010.292
E. Suarez 3B5220.256
G. Moreno C3110.270
G. Perdomo SS3121.277
  • a-walked for Pederson in the 6th
HITTERSABRHRBIAVG
B. Turang 2B4010.258
b- I. Collins PH1000.100
J. Chourio LF5120.272
W. Contreras C5142.284
G. Mitchell CF4111.256
c- E. Haase PH1000.304
W. Adames SS3010.248
R. Hoskins 1B4010.212
S. Frelick RF4010.256
G. Sanchez DH3000.221
a- J. Bauers PH-DH1000.194
J. Ortiz 3B4111.237
  • a-lined out for Sanchez in the 8th
  • b-struck out for Turang in the 9th
  • c-struck out for Mitchell in the 9th

BATTING

  • 2B – K. Marte (22), P. Smith (11)
  • HR – K. Marte (33), L. Gurriel (18)
  • SF – C. Carroll (8)
  • RBI – C. Carroll 2 (72), K. Marte 2 (90), R. Grichuk (43), L. Gurriel (71), G. Perdomo (35)
  • 2-Out RBI – R. Grichuk
  • Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – K. Marte 2 (2), C. Walker 3 (3), E. Suarez

BATTING

  • HR – W. Contreras (23), G. Mitchell (8), J. Ortiz (11)
  • RBI – W. Contreras 2 (92), G. Mitchell (20), J. Ortiz (52)
  • 2-Out RBI – W. Contreras 2 (2), G. Mitchell
  • Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – B. Turang 2 (2), R. Hoskins 3 (3)

BASERUNNING

  • CS – J. Pederson (4)

BASERUNNING

  • SB – B. Turang (46), J. Chourio (21)
PITCHERSIPHERBBSOERA
Z. Gallen(W, 13-6)5.074153.74
K. Ginkel(H, 17)1.020013.38
J. Martinez(H, 7)1.020022.33
R. Thompson(H, 24)1.000003.13
A. Puk(S, 3)1.010033.09
PITCHERSIPHERBBSOERA
C. Rea4.053144.20
D. Hall(L, 1-2)1.154015.68
J. Koenig0.200312.44
J. Payamps1.000113.23
K. Herget2.020021.69

PITCHING

  • Pitches-Strikes – Z. Gallen 96-58, K. Ginkel 18-13, J. Martinez 19-13, R. Thompson 10-6, A. Puk 14-12
  • Ground Balls-Fly Balls – Z. Gallen 7-6, K. Ginkel 2-0, J. Martinez 3-0, R. Thompson 2-0, A. Puk 1-0
  • Batters Faced – Z. Gallen 23, K. Ginkel 5, J. Martinez 5, R. Thompson 3, A. Puk 4

PITCHING

  • Pitches-Strikes – C. Rea 67-45, D. Hall 32-21, J. Koenig 26-15, J. Payamps 15-7, K. Herget 31-22
  • Ground Balls-Fly Balls – C. Rea 4-5, D. Hall 5-2, J. Koenig 1-0, J. Payamps 2-0, K. Herget 2-0
  • Batters Faced – C. Rea 17, D. Hall 9, J. Koenig 5, J. Payamps 4, K. Herget 8

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