SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The contending Milwaukee Brewers made two trades in as many days to bolster their bullpen for all these close games and try to generate more runs so they don’t have to be in so many tight ones.
A day after acquiring veteran reliever Joakim Soria from the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee landed third baseman Mike Moustakas on Friday from the Kansas City Royals as the club chases its first playoff appearance since reaching the 2011 NL championship series.
“We were looking for another big bat to add to the lineup and we got it,” manager Craig Counsell said following a 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants. “We feel like we can put together a really tough lineup on a daily basis now.”
Moustakas, who will be reunited with former World Series champion teammate Lorenzo Cain, was expected to be at AT&T Park on Saturday and available for the night game.
Ryan Braun hit an RBI single and drove in two runs to back Chase Anderson’s first victory in nearly a month, leading Milwaukee to another late rally.
Soria pitched the seventh in his Milwaukee debut. He came in with his team up 2-1 and immediately retired Brandon Crawford on a groundout. Following a walk to Evan Longoria, Soria induced Pablo Sandoval’s inning-ending double play.
Anderson (7-7) allowed one run on four hits in six innings with three strikeouts and no walks. He earned his first win in five July starts since beating the Reds on June 29 and Corey Knebel saved his second straight game for 14 on the year.
“Two left-handed bats in the lineup with pop, I’ll take it,” Anderson said in reference to Moustakas and Eric Thames.
Jeremy Jeffress struck out the first two batters of the eighth before loading the bases on a pair of singles by Steven Duggar and Alen Hanson, then a walk to Andrew McCutchen. Buster Posey grounded out to end the threat.
Milwaukee got RBI groundouts from Braun in the sixth and Orlando Arcia in the seventh as the Brewers made it two straight road victories following a six-game skid away from Miller Park. Braun singled in the eighth a night after a key run-scoring single as the Brewers won 7-5 on Thursday.
Madison Bumgarner (3-4) struck out five and walked one in eight strong innings but didn’t get enough support. He allowed three runs on seven hits in his 10th start of the season. The 2014 World Series MVP was coming off a career-high six walks last Saturday at Oakland, going only four-plus innings.
“They just got some hits in big spots for them,” Bumgarner said. “Tough game, tough loss for us.”
The Giants grabbed a quick lead in the second on consecutive doubles by Posey and Brandon Crawford, who had just his fourth RBI and extra-base hit this month.
A typical Bay Area summer night, it was one degree colder than Thursday with a first-pitch temperature of 58 degrees.
Christian Yelich’s first of two doubles in the first extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
A moment of silence was held before the national anthem for the victims of deadly, devastating wildfires in Northern California.
BOCHY’S QUICK TRIP
Giants manager Bruce Bochy plans to take a redeye late Saturday after the game to be in Cooperstown, New York, to support Trevor Hoffman at the closer’s Hall of Fame induction.
Bench coach Hensley Meulens will manage Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Brewers.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: CF Cain was given a day off sooner than Counsell had planned - initially it was Sunday - because of a tender left knee from a swing and sore right wrist from a slide into second Thursday. … INF Jonathan Villar (thumb) went through an extensive on-field workout with the hope he came out of it OK on Saturday and could then go out on a rehab assignment. … RHP Zach Davies, who underwent an MRI earlier in the week on his back as he rehabs a shoulder injury, was set to pitch with Class-A Peoria. … Milwaukee optioned RHP Jacob Barnes to Triple-A Colorado Springs to clear roster room for Soria.
Giants: After five innings a night earlier, 2B Joe Panik (strained left groin) went 1 for 3 with a walk playing seven innings for Triple-A Sacramento on Friday then nine Saturday before spending a couple of days with Class-A San Jose once Sacramento goes on the road.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (9-3, 3.58 ERA) tries to reach double-digit wins for a second straight season as he goes for victory No. 10 and a fourth straight winning decision.
Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto (3-1, 2.76) makes his fourth start since coming off the DL on July 5 and owns a career 11-3 record and 2.74 ERA in 21 starts vs. Milwaukee.
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