Red-Hot Giants Cool Off In Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Chris Carter hit his first home run for Milwaukee, then had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to lead the Brewers over the San Francisco Giants 4-3 Wednesday.
Jeff Samardzija, making his Giants debut after signing a $90 million, five-year contract, allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings, struck out six and walked three. He is 0-5 in 10 career starts against Milwaukee.
Carter's third-inning home run was his fourth off Samardzija. He left Houston to sign with the Brewers after hitting 90 homers during three years with Houston.
With the score 3-all, Javier Lopez (0-1) walked Scooter Gennett leading off the seventh. Ryan Braun's single off Cory Gearrin and Buster Posey's passed ball advanced the runners, and Carter's fly to center helped the Brewers beat the Giants for the second time in their last 12 meetings.
Tyler Thornburg (1-0) pitched a one-hit seventh, and Jeremy Jeffress threw a perfect ninth for his first save.
Angel Pagan, who played with two sore knees for most of last season, showed he can still run. The 34-year-old doubled and scored in the first, then tripled off Chris Capuano in the sixth and tied the score 3-all on Posey's sacrifice fly off Blaine Boyer.
Matt Duffy, who hit a two-run homer in Monday's 12-3 win, led off the second with a solo drive that sailed over a television camera in deep left-center.
Milwaukee's Taylor Jungmann allowed two runs -- one earned -- and three hits in five innings, leaving with a 3-2 lead. He singled and scored in the second.
TIMELY DOUBLE PLAY
With Pagan at third base with one out in the first, Posey grounded to Carter at first. His throw skipped off catcher Jonathan Lucroy's glove as Pagan scored. One batter later, Brandon Belt lofted a fly ball down the left-field line. Third baseman Aaron Hill made a running over-the-shoulder catch, turned and threw a one-hopper to get Posey at the plate for a double play.
UNDER REVIEW
Milwaukee challenged a tag play at second base in the fourth on Belt. After a 1-minute, 56-second review, the call was overturned and Belt was out caught stealing.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: CF Denard Span wasn't feeling well at the start of the game, but pinch hit in the seventh for George Kontos. ... The Giants were one of three teams to begin the season with no players on the disabled list. The other two are in the AL, Chicago and Minnesota.
Brewers: With RHP Corey Knebel (left oblique strain) and LHP Will Smith (right knee sprain) on the 15-day disabled list, LHP Sam Freeman (3-2, 3.23 ERA in 135 appearances) was acquired from Texas for $40,000 after Tuesday night's game. The Rangers had designated him for assignment on March 29. RHP Tyler Cravy was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs, and RHP Ariel Pena was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Jake Peavy is to start in San Francisco's home opener Thursday against the Dodgers. Peavy is 14-3 with a 2.38 ERA in 29 starts against Los Angeles.
Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson is slated to make his Milwaukee debut Friday night against Houston. Acquired as part of a five-player deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Anderson went 6-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 27 starts last season. He has never faced Houston.
