Brewers 3, Astros 2
MILWAUKEE -- Jimmy Nelson struck out nine and Aaron Hill drove in a pair of runs as the Milwaukee Brewers won their first series of the season with a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.
Nelson (1-1) worked six-plus innings and scattered three hits while walking four.
Early on, it looked like he might be in for a long afternoon.
Jose Altuve crushed Nelson's first offering of the game for a home run to left and George Springer followed with a base hit on pitch No. 2.
But Springer got caught trying to steal second -- one of three outs the Astros would make on the base paths Sunday -- and Nelson escaped by striking out Carlos Correa and getting Colby Rasmus to ground out to first to end the inning.
The Brewers' offense wiped out the early deficit quickly in the bottom of the inning.
Domingo Santana drew a leadoff walk and following a Jonathan Villar strikeout, Ryan Braun and Chris Carter drew back-to-back walks from Houston left-hander Dallas Kuechel, who paid the price when Hill ripped a single to the gap in right.
Santana struck again in the fourth, driving in Yadiel Rivera with an RBI double and the Astros got back within a run an inning later on a solo home run by Preston Tucker.
All three Brewers' runs were charged to Keuchel (1-1), who went 5 2/3 innings and gave up six hits with six walks while striking out eight.
Jeremy Jeffress snared a come-backer for Tucker, capping off a perfect ninth inning for his third save in as many chances.
NOTES: Despite getting off to a hot start at the plate (.412, three HR, three RBIs), Brewers 2B Scooter Gennett got a day off Sunday against Houston LHP Dallas Keuchel. C Jonathan Lucroy also got his first day off Sunday. ... Sitting Gennett allowed manager Craig Counsell to give INF Yadiel Rivera his first start of the season. Rivera hadn't appeared in a game until taking over as part of a double-shift Saturday night and he proceeded to finish the game 2-for-2 at the plate with a double and a run scored. ... Astros 3B Luis Valbuena got a day off Sunday as well. He has started the season 5-for-19 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. ... The Astros return to Houston Monday where they will open the home portion of their schedule against Kansas City. ... The Brewers travel to St. Louis, where the Cardinals will host their Opening Day festivities.