Brewers Win 2-1 with Three Bunts

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers used three straight bunts in the seventh inning to score the go-ahead run and defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Thursday.

Aaron Ashby earned his fifth win by pitching just two batters and securing the final out in the seventh inning. Meanwhile, Toronto left the potential tying runner at third base after Kazuma Okamoto grounded out against Angel Zerpa, who recorded his second save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had given Toronto hope with a leadoff single and later reached third on grounders to the right side. However, Milwaukee’s strategic bunting in the seventh inning proved decisive.

The Brewers snapped a six-game losing streak by scoring twice in the eighth inning without hitting any balls out of the infield. This tactic continued in Thursday’s game as they again avoided extra-base hits during their winning rally.

Garrett Mitchell started the inning with a walk, and Greg Jones bunted him to second. David Hamilton then beat out another bunt to put runners on the corners. Joey Ortiz delivered a safety squeeze that drove in Mitchell for the go-ahead run.

Both teams scored using safety squeezes. Toronto had taken an early lead in the third inning when Andrés Giménez doubled and scored on a bunt by Tyler Heineman.

Milwaukee tied the game in the fourth inning after Brice Turang doubled, moved to third on a single, and scored on a sacrifice fly.

Brewers starter Brandon Sproat pitched six and two-thirds innings, striking out six batters while allowing one run. Trevor Megill, who was pitching just two days after giving up three runs in a loss to Toronto, came on in the eighth and struck out two batters.

The Blue Jays will travel to Arizona for their next series, with Eric Lauer starting for Toronto. The Brewers will head to Miami, but no starter has been named yet for Friday’s game.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB