Photo from @SFGiants
By Jeremy Kahn
Ben Gamel came up with the hit of the game at the most opportune time for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Gamel, who came off the bench hit a double off of Reyes Moronta in the bottom of the ninth inning, helping the Brewers to a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park.
The walk-off pinch hit double by Gamel scored Ryan Braun, who led off the inning, when Brandon Crawford was unable to field the grounder.
Moronta then regrouped to strikeout both Mike Moustakas and Jesus Aguliar, then Keston Hiura walked and then Gamel lined a Moronta pitch into the right field corner to send the Miller Park and the Brewers into celebration mode.
The Giants tied up the game in the top of the ninth inning, as they scored two runs off of Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress. Crawford got the rally started, as he walked off of Jeffress, then went to second on an Austin Slater single. Stephen Vogt singled in Crawford with a single to centerfield and then Slater scored the tying run, when Lorenzo Cain overran the ball.
Slater gave the Giants a 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning, as came off the bench to pick up a pinch-hit double off of reliever Alex Claudio.
Unfortunately, the lights out Giants bullpen was unable to hold onto the lead, as Sam Dyson gave up three straight doubles to give the Brewers the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Moustakas, Aguilar and Hiura began the eighth with those doubles. Eric Thames then came off the back to single Hiura up to third base and that was it for Dyson.
Derek Holland came on to replace Dyson and promptly walked Yasmani Grandal to load the bases, and then Orlando Arcia hit a sacrifice fly to score Hiura from third base.
Madison Bumgarner, who left his last start after just two innings when he was hit on the left elbow on a ball hit by Jose Martinez of the St. Louis Cardinals showed effects from it, as he went five innings, allowing one (unearned) run, on seven hits, walking one and striking out seven.
The Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Brandon Belt reached on a fielding error by Zach Davies, then Buster Posey singled to left and after a Pablo Sandoval ground out that advanced Belt and Posey up an additional 90 feet. Evan Longoria then walked to load the bases, and Mike Yastrzemski hit a sacrifice fly that scored Belt from third base.
Davies got the Brewers back into the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he doubled with one out off of Bumgarner. After Cain flew out to right field for the second out of the inning, Christian Yelich then hit a ball up the middle that Joe Panik was unable to field and Davies scored the tying run from second base.
Like Bumgarner, Davies did not fare in the decision, as he went six innings, allowing one (unearned) run on just two hits, walking two and striking out five.
NOTES: In honor of the 14th annual Cerveceros Night, both the Brewers and Giants wore Spanish jerseys. The Brewers wore Cerveceros jerseys, and the Giants wore their Gigantes jerseys.
Alex Dickerson was not in the starting lineup, as he experienced tightness in his back in Fridays game. He was available to pinch hit if needed.
UP NEXT: Tyler Beede will make his first ever start against the Brewers on Sunday, while the Brewers will send Jhoulys Chacin will make his 22nd career start against the Giants and is 9-7 with a 3.11 earned run average.
