Marlins at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers were unable to post a third consecutive shutout in the opener of their four-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins, but they managed to break out offensively. Milwaukee reached double digits in runs for the first time this season in the 12-3 victory and looks to continue that success at the plate when it hosts Miami on Friday.
Lorenzo Cain and Jesus Aguilar each recorded three hits in the rout, with the former driving in two runs while scoring four and the latter collecting three RBIs and crossing the plate twice. The Brewers extended their winning streak to three games without Eric Thames, who was kept out of the starting lineup after belting two-run homers in consecutive 2-0 triumphs over Cincinnati. The 31-year-old slugger, who did deliver a pinch-hit single on Thursday, has gone deep in back-to-back games three times this month and belted a total of 18 home runs in the last two Aprils. The Marlins lost for the fourth time in five contests and had its only offense in the series opener provided by former Brewer Lewis Brinson, who hit a solo homer in the third inning and a two-run shot in the fifth for his first two blasts of the year.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Trevor Richards (0-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (0-1, 5.60)
Richards had the best performance of his young major-league career on Saturday as he allowed just two hits while walking one batter and hitting another over seven scoreless innings of a no-decision against Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old rookie from Illinois failed to last five frames in either of his first two career starts, surrendering eight runs and 14 hits over 8 1/3 innings. Richards' lone turn on the road came on April 8, when he yielded three runs on six hits and three walks in four innings of a no-decision at Philadelphia.
Chacin remains in search of his first win of the season as he makes his fifth overall start and second at home. The 30-year-old Venezuelan is coming off a no-decision against the Mets in New York on Sunday, when he allowed just one run on five hits and three walks but worked only four innings. Chacin has not fared well against Miami in his career, going 1-4 with a 5.22 ERA in five starts and two relief appearances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers OF Ryan Braun (calf) was kept out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Thursday but belted a three-run homer as a pinch hitter to become the second player in franchise history to reach 1,000 career RBIs, joining Robin Yount (1,406 from 1974-93).
2. Miami placed LHP Chris O'Grady (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Merandy Gonzalez from Double-A Jacksonville.
3. Milwaukee acquired INF Tyler Saladino from the Chicago White Sox for cash and assigned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs while designating RHP Alec Asher for assignment.