MILWAUKEE (AP) - Greg Holland measures his progress back from Tommy John surgery in simple steps.
He’s feeling just fine as long as he’s closing out games for the Colorado Rockies.
Holland earned his second save in two days, capping another scoreless outing for Colorado relievers in a 6-5 win Tuesday night over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The right-hander tossed a perfect ninth for a Rockies bullpen that has opened the season with 8 1/3 scoreless innings. New setup man Mike Dunn struck out all three batters he faced looking in the eighth with the Brewers trailing by a run.
“We know what they can bring in terms of performance, but also what they can do with that group to (liven) everybody up,” new Colorado manager Bud Black said.
It has been an especially gratifying start for Holland, the former Royals closer back on the mound after missing the 2016 season following right elbow surgery.
Holland needed a double play started by third baseman Nolan Arenado’s diving stop to get the save in the season opener. The ninth inning was a little easier Tuesday.
“I feel healthy. If I feel healthy, I fully expect to do what they ask of me. I’m not worried about getting back to a certain level of getting back to where I was in ’12 or ’13 or whatever year,” Holland said. “I just want to be successful here today and fortunately I was today.”
Gerardo Parra and Mark Reynolds, a pair of former Brewers, look comfortable back in Milwaukee, too. Parra’s bases-loaded double with the game tied at 1 in a four-run third inning put the Rockies ahead for good.
Reynolds, who is playing first base with Ian Desmond sidelined by a broken left hand, added an RBI double in the fifth.
Ryan Braun homered and doubled for the Brewers. His solo shot in the fourth on a pitch low and away in the zone landed among restaurant-goers sitting on a patio above left field.
Otherwise, the Rockies feasted on Brewers starter Zach Davies (0-1). The right-hander gave up six runs on nine hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.
“It was a strange game because there was a lot of soft contact that cost him, really,” said Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell, who also pointed to Davies getting into some trouble in the third while falling behind in the count.
SHAW’S START
Travis Shaw doubled twice and had a run and two RBIs for the Brewers off left-handed starter Tyler Anderson. A left-handed hitter with a career .247 average against lefties, Shaw drew the Brewers within 6-4 with a run-scoring grounder in the sixth with runners at second and third.
Shaw’s four doubles are a franchise record over the first two games of a season. Asked if Shaw could see regular at-bats against lefties, Counsell said: “What he’s shown us so far is certainly that he deserves it.”
The Brewers had the potential tying run on third later in the sixth, but Orlando Arcia struck out swinging with two outs against reliever Carlos Estevez.
MR. ANDERSON
Anderson (1-0) struck out eight and allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Rockies.
“Still getting to know Tyler, watching him pitch, watching his stuff. I like the competitive nature of this fella. I like the composure,” said Black, who has won his first two games as Rockies skipper.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers opening day starter Junior Guerra was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right calf and the team recalled reliever Brent Suter from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Counsell said Guerra could be out six weeks with what he called a significant strain. … Milwaukee RHP Matt Garza, on the DL with a right groin injury, threw off a mound before batting practice and could start a rehab stint at Triple-A early next week.
UP NEXT
Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood, who had a franchise-record 1.69 road ERA last season, makes his first start of the season Wednesday night and his first appearance at Miller Park.
Brewers: RHP Wily Peralta, last season’s opening day starter, makes his 2017 debut. Peralta had a 0.71 ERA in three spring training appearances without getting a decision. He also allowed one run in a four-inning start on March 12 in his only appearance in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic.
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