By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Jonathan Lucroy went 5-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.
Yuniesky Betancourt went 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez and Jeff Bianchi each drove in a run for the Brewers, who had dropped a season-high six straight games entering the contest.
"I felt pretty good yesterday swinging the bat," said Lucroy. "Things just worked out and I was able to hit the ball hard somewhere."
Yovani Gallardo (4-5) gave up five runs on six hits -- three homers -- and three walks while striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.
Domonic Brown finished his torrid May campaign by slugging a pair of homers and driving in four runs. Brown batted .308 with a league-leading 12 home runs and 25 RBI for the month.
Jimmy Rollins added a pair of hits, including a solo homer, and scored two runs for the Phillies, losers in four of their last six games.
Cole Hamels (1-9) continued to struggle this season, giving up seven runs -- six earned -- on 12 hits while striking out three to absorb his sixth consecutive loss.
"Its tough, I felt like I had all my pitches working," said Hamels. "I made two mistakes to Lucroy and ultimately he just showed that he's a strong guy."
May was not as kind to Hamels, who finished the month 0-6 with a 4.95 earned run average.
Brown's three-run homer gave the Phillies a rare lead in the first inning. With two outs, Rollins ripped a base hit to center field. With Ryan Howard batting, Rollins swiped second base and Howard ended up drawing a walk to set the table for Brown, who roped a line-drive over the right-field fence.
It was the first three-run home run for the Phillies since Howard cracked a three-run shot on April 26 against the New York Mets.
Milwaukee, though, added a pair of runs in the second and four in third to go up 6-3. Hamels hit Gomez with a pitch and the shifty outfielder stole second before he moved to third on Humberto Quintero's throwing error. Lucroy followed with an RBI double and moved to third on a Betancourt single before scoring on Bianchi's ground out.
The Brewers loaded the bases with no outs in the third. Ramirez drove in Norichika Aoki with a broken-bat single through the hole on the right side. Gomez followed with a sacrifice fly to score Jean Segura and Lucroy singled home Ryan Braun to give the visitors a two-run edge. Betancourt capped the inning with a run-scoring infield single that deflected off Hamels.
Rollins pulled the Phillies within 6-4 with his solo shot in the home half, but Lucroy crushed a homer of his own in the fifth to make it a three-run game.
Brown's second homer of the night, a no-doubter to right field, brought the Phils back within two runs, but Lucroy crushed his second solo shot to left- center field in the ninth to give Milwaukee the decisive 8-5 spread.
Francisco Rodriguez hurled a perfect ninth inning to notch his second save of the season.
Game Notes
Gallardo snapped a four-start losing streak ... Gallardo is eight strikeouts away from 1,000 for his career ... Brown became the first Phillies player to hit 12 homers in one month since Howard clubbed 12 four-baggers in both August and May of 2006 ... The Phillies released relief pitcher Chad Durbin on Friday and recalled pitcher Joe Savery from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/lucroy-does-it-all-brewers-down-phillies