San Diego, CA – Jonathan Lucroy and Yuniesky Betancourt drove in two runs apiece, and the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the San Diego Padres, 6-3, for their ninth straight victory.
After starting the season 2-8, the Brewers have won nine in a row for the first time since a 10-game run from Aug. 19-28, 2003.
Ryan Braun and Jean Segura each had an RBI for the Brewers, who have won the first two games of the three-game set. Starter Yovani Gallardo (2-1) allowed three runs on eight hits and five walks over 6 2/3 innings. Jim Henderson pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his fifth save.
"I don't know why he's out of whack like he is," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of Gallardo. "The good thing is, if he can keep us in ballgames and win ballgames when he's struggling, it's going to be a nice thing when he gets it going."
Clayton Richard (0-2) lasted just 1 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs on six hits and two walks for the Padres, who had Carlos Quentin return from an eight-game suspension for charging the mound and starting a benches-clearing brawl after being hit by a pitch by the Dodgers' Zack Greinke on April 11.
"I don't think he was quite 100 percent," Padres manager Bud Black said of Richard.
Quentin, Yonder Alonso and Will Venable each had an RBI for the Padres in defeat, their seventh straight loss at home.
Segura tripled with one out in the first and came home on Braun's RBI groundout.
In the bottom of the inning, Venable singled and stole second base before Chase Headley drew a walk. This set up Quentin's single to shallow left, scoring Venable. Next up was Alonso, who also singled to plate Headley and give the Padres a 2-1 lead.
Rickie Weeks drew a leadoff walk and Gomez cracked a double to begin the second. Betancourt hit a line drive single to right to bring both of them home. After a single by Alex Gonzalez and a bunt by Norichika Aoki, Segura grounded out to third, but Betancourt was able to score. Braun was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Lucroy's two-run double.
Venable hit a two-out single in the third that scored Nick Hundley, who doubled three batters earlier.
Neither team had any offensive success for the duration of the game. The Padres were hitless through the final 2 1/3 innings. Henderson allowed Venable to walk with two outs in the ninth, who would then reach second on a fielder's indifference, but struck out Headley to end the game.
Game Notes
Segura had a stolen base, his sixth of the season, tied with Andrew McCutchen and Everth Cabrera for most in the National League ... Quentin was 1-for-3 and drew a walk ... Hundley hit his seventh double, tied with Carlos Santana for most among catchers in the league ... Chris Denorfia has hit safely in all but three of his 18 games played this season.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.