Brewers 4, Giants 3
MILWAUKEE -- Chris Carter hit his first home run as a Brewer and drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly as Milwaukee avoided a season-opening sweep with a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park.
San Francisco starter Jeff Smardzija gave up three runs on eight hits over five innings of work to remain winless in his career against the Brewers but turned things over to the bullpen with the game knotted at 3.
Javier Lopez (0-1) quickly ran into trouble in the seventh, issuing a leadoff walk to Scooter Gennett. Manager Bruce Bochy turned to Cory Gearrin, who allowed a single to Ryan Braun. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before Gearrin got Jonathan Lucroy for a strikeout.
That brought up Carter, who struck out, homered and bounced into a rally-killing double play in the fifth. He fell behind 2-1 before sending a slider to center just deep for Gennett to score easily and give Milwaukee the lead.
Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence had two hits each for the Giants, who couldn't do much against Brewers right-hander Taylor Jungmann.
Jungmann allowed two runs -- one earned -- on three hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout over five innings of work.
A first-inning error on catcher Jonathan Lucroy allowed San Francisco to take an early 1-0 lead but Milwaukee got it back in the bottom of the inning when Domingo Santana drew a leadoff walk and scored on Ryan Braun's single.
Matt Duffy's leadoff homer in the second put the Giants back in front and Milwaukee responded again, trying the game at 2 on Santana's RBI single.
The Brewers took a 3-2 lead in the third on a solo home run by Carter.
Jungmann gave way to lefty Chris Capuano in the fifth, but he gave up an Angel Pagan triple and Pagan would tie the game once more scoring on a sacrifice fly by Buster Posey.
Tyler Thornburg (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning of relief for his first victory of the season and Jeremy Jeffress notched his first save with a perfect ninth.
NOTES: Giants OF Denard Span was unavailable Wednesday after being bitten by a flu bug that has been working its way through the San Francisco clubhouse. Span had gone 3-for-8 with a home run, five RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base in the first two games of the season. ... OF Gregor Blanco took Span's place in center field and moved into the ninth spot in manager Bruce Bochy's lineup while LF Angel Pagan moved into the leadoff spot. ... LHP Sam Freeman arrived in Milwaukee, was in uniform and available after he was acquired by the Brewers from Texas for cash considerations. Freeman posted a 5.68 ERA in six relief appearances with the Rangers during spring training. ... To make room for Freeman, Milwaukee designated RHP Ariel Pena for assignment. ... The Giants were looking for their first 3-0 start since going 4-0 to open the 2010 season.