Brewers 8, Padres 5
MILWAUKEE -- Taylor Jungmann struck out eight over seven innings and Jonathan Lucroy hit his fourth home run of the season as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Diego Padres 8-5 on Wednesday night at Miller Park.
Jungmann (6-3) had been lights out since making his major league debut on June 9, but came into the game having lost consecutive decisions for the first time despite only allowing two earned runs in each of those starts.
He was tagged for an early run Wednesday, but stranded a pair in the first then settled down quickly and faced the minimum over the next five innings.
He gave up his second run of the day in the seventh, on an RBI single by center fielder Will Venable.
Milwaukee's offense had only scored one run in his last two starts, but struck early against the Padres, scoring four in the first inning, then plated three more in the eighth, aided by an error on center fielder Melvin Upton Jr.
San Diego cut into that lead with three runs in the ninth, including a two-run pinch-hit home run by Brett Wallace off right-hander Corey Knebel.
Brewers manager was forced to call on closer Francisco Rodriguez with two outs and a man on first and the right-hander delivered, striking out catcher Derek Norris for his 25th save of the season.
Padres starter Ian Kennedy (6-10) also went seven innings, and was charged with four runs on seven hits while striking out seven.
Back-to-back singles by shortstop Alexi Amarista and third baseman Yangervis Solarte led to a 1-0 San Diego lead after right fielder Matt Kemp hit a sacrifice fly to right.
Milwaukee quickly took the lead back in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer by Lucroy and got two more on center fielder Shane Peterson's single down the line in right.
NOTES: RHP Tyler Cravy reported to Milwaukee and was in uniform on Wednesday night after being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs late Tuesday. Cravy, who made two starts earlier this season for the Brewers, was 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 17 starts for the Sky Sox. Manager Craig Counsell said Cravy will work out of the bullpen. ... To make room for Cravy on the roster, Milwaukee optioned RHP Preston Guilmet to Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... Padres LF Justin Upton returned to the lineup on Wednesday. He was forced to leave the game early Monday and sat out Tuesday because a bruised right thumb. ... Brewers LHP James Hader, acquired last week in a trade that sent OF Carlos Gomez to Houston, allowed one hit and struck out nine in five innings during his debut with Double-A Biloxi on Tuesday night. ... The Padres are one of five National League teams to have four or more players with 40 or more RBIs this season.