Arenado's blast lift Rockies to series win over Brewers
MILWAUKEE -- Antonio Senzatela struck out six in his major league debut while Mark Reynolds and Nolan Arenado hit solo home runs and the Colorado Rockies defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1, Thursday afternoon.
Pitching above the Double-A level for the first time in his career, the 22-year-old scattered two hits and walked three.
Senzatela was tested early by the Brewers, who loaded the bases with one out in the first inning but he escaped when Domingo Santana bounced into a double play and crushed from there, facing three over the minimum without allowing a runner into scoring position the rest of the way.
Reynolds gave Senzatela a 1-0 lead in the third with his second home run of the season and Arenado broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth when he sent a 0-2 fastball at the letters from Neftali Feliz (0-1) to left-center field for his first home run.
Reynolds went 7-for-15 with three doubles, two home runs, six RBI and 16 total bases in the series. Arenado was 5-for-14 in the series.
Milwaukee starter Chase Anderson allowed three hits and walked two while striking out four in six innings.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis worked a full count against Adam Ottavino before sending a fastball to right-center for his first homer of the season to forge a 1-1 deadlock with one out in the seventh.
Milwaukee threatened again in the eighth, putting two on with one out against Mike Dunn (1-0) but the left-hander got Domingo Santana to line out to second and Hernan Perez flew out to center, ending the inning.
After Arenado's home run, Greg Holland earned his third save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.
NOTES: Brewers manager Craig Counsell gave LF Ryan Braun his first off-day of the season Thursday. Braun made the game's final out as a pinch hitter. The move allowed Counsell to shift Eric Thames to left and give Jesus Aguilar a start at 1B. ... After using the same positional lineup for the first three games of the season, Rockies manager Bud Black made one change Thursday, resting C Tony Wolters and starting Dustin Garneau in his place. ... Milwaukee OF Keon Broxton left the game after being struck in the helmet by a pitch in the second inning. ... Coloardo 1B Mark Reynolds had seven hits over the first four games including three doubles, two home runs and six RBI.