Milwaukee, WI – Blake Lalli's pinch-hit, game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants in the middle test of a three-game set.
Santiago Casilla (1-1) served up a single to Jonathan Lucroy to start the frame, but Alex Gonzalez was unable to move pinch-runner Josh Prince to second when he popped up a bunt to Brandon Belt in foul territory.
Carlos Gomez reached on an infield single and both runners advanced a base on Brandon Crawford's throwing error. Yuniesky Betancourt was intentionally walked to load the bases before Lalli ended it with a long single over the head of Gregor Blanco in left.
"I definitely was looking to swing and be aggressive," Lalli said. "Anytime you're in that situation, it's fun."
Milwaukee starter Kyle Lohse retired the first 14 batters he faced before walking Brandon Belt in the fifth. He lost his no-hit bid in the sixth when Crawford led off the inning with a single.
"He was on his game today, he was really sharp," Giants right fielder Hunter Pence said of Lohse.
Overall, Lohse surrendered three runs on six hits and a walk over seven frames, while Betancourt smacked a solo homer and added a sacrifice fly for the Brewers, who have won three straight games.
Jim Henderson (2-0) spun a scoreless top of the ninth to pick up the win.
Starter Ryan Vogelsong allowed three runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings for San Francisco, which has dropped back-to-back contests following a 6-1 stretch.
The Brewers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after plating a run in the third and two more in the fifth.
Betancourt led off the third with a solo shot over the wall in left-center. Alex Gonzalez doubled down the left-field line to begin the fifth before scoring on Gomez's triple to right. Gomez came home on Betancourt's sac fly to right.
The Giants, though, plated three in the sixth to tie it.
After Crawford's single, he moved to second on Vogelsong's sacrifice bunt. Angel Pagan then grounded a base hit through the hole on the right side to plate Crawford before back-to-back singles by Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval loaded the bases. After Buster Posey struck out, Pence brought home Pagan and Scutaro with a base hit back up the middle.
Game Notes
Pence has 10 RBI on the year ... Lohse gave up five hits in the sixth ... The Brewers were 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position, while San Francisco finished 3-for-7 with RISP.
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