Eight-run sixth inning backs Jose Quintana’s strong start as Brewers rout Giants 11-3

Quintana pitched six innings of one-run ball as the Brewers scored 13 runs off the Giants, including eight in the sixth.

Box Score

After a rough start to the series on Monday night, the Brewers came into Tuesday night looking for a boost after taking the day off from batting practice. The extra rest may have paid off, as the Brewers scored 11 runs to back Jose Quintana and take game two.

Both starters, Jose Quintana and Jordan Hicks, started the game well. The Brewers put together a threat in the first with back-to-back singles to start the game, but a double play and strikeout ended that. Meanwhile, Quintana started with two scoreless innings, allowing just a single in the second.

The Brewers broke through in the third inning. Caleb Durbin led off the inning with a double, then Brice Turang’s second hit put runners at the corners. Jackson Chourio brought in Durbin with a groundout, scoring the first run. The inning continued with a Christian Yelich double, and William Contreras singled to left, increasing the lead to 3-0.

Quintana gave a run back in the third, allowing a double and broken-bat single that brought in a run. He allowed a total of three hits in the inning, but limited them to one run. Two more scoreless innings went by before the sixth inning started.

Jake Bauers started it off with a single. Vinny Capra hit a routine ground ball to shortstop Willy Adames, who threw to first and it was initially called an out. However, the Brewers challenged and it was overturned, as first baseman David Villar had to come off the base to make the catch. Capra was safe and it was ruled a throwing error by Adames. Next up was Garrett Mitchell, and on a 2-2 count, Hicks pitch was low and catcher Patrick Bailey didn’t catch it clean. Bauers took off for third, but Bailey threw to first to try and get Capra. His throw was off and went into right field, allowing Bauers to run home and Capra to reach second. It was ruled a wild pitch by Hicks and a throwing error by Bailey.

Those mistakes by the Giants set the Brewers up for a massive inning. After Mitchell walked, Lou Trivino entered the game in relief. He started with a fly out from Durbin. Next up was Turang, who recorded his third hit and reached base for the fourth time. This drove in Capra, and the Brewers had a 5-1 lead.

Jackson Chourio was up next, and he took a scary hit as a pitch from Trevino hit him in the arm. He was checked out, remained in the game, and the bases were loaded. That set up Christian Yelich, who made it count. On a 2-2 count, he hit one out to straight away center, bringing in four more with a grand slam. The Brewers had blown open the game at 9-1.

That wasn’t the end of it, though. After Contreras grounded out for the second out of the inning, Sal Frelick drew a walk before Bauers made his second appearance of the inning. It also ended up being his second hit of the inning, this one a home run to right-center field. That capped an eight-run sixth for the Brewers, who had an 11-1 lead.

Quintana would come out for one more inning and got into some trouble in the sixth. He ended up loading the bases, but didn’t allow any to score as he worked out of the jam. That finished his night, and his excellent start to the season continued. In three starts, he’s allowed just two runs over 18 ²⁄₃ innings.

With the Brewers up by 10 runs, they didn’t need much from the bullpen tonight. Grant Anderson and Bryan Hudson each pitched an inning and allowed a run. Anderson’s came from some small ball (a walk, single, groundout, and sacrifice fly in the seventh). Hudson allowed a walk, hit by pitch, and single for the run he allowed. He then finished the eighth with a strikeout before getting Villar to ground into a double play. Joel Payamps got some work in the ninth, and he got into trouble by allowing three singles to the first four batters (though Frelick caught Sam Huff off first base). None would score, with Payamps getting Jung Hoo Lee to fly out to end the game.

On offense, the Brewers recorded 13 hits, four walks, and a hit by pitch. Turang led the day with a 4-for-4 performance, and reached base in all five of his plate appearances. Jake Bauers had a three-hit day that included a home run, and Yelich had two hits that also included a home run. Durbin was the one other Brewer with a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4. Every Brewer reached base at least once, including Frelick, Capra, and Mitchell (who were all hitless but each walked once).

The Giants offense also had plenty of opportunities in the game. They recorded 11 hits and also walked four times (along with a hit by pitch). However, they only managed three runs compared to the Brewers’ 11 runs. The Brewers took advantage of a couple of Giants’ errors, and their two home runs were massive boosts to the offense. Meanwhile, the Giants only had two extra-base hits (both doubles), went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position, and left nine runners on base as a team.

Game three will feature a matchup of top pitchers as both teams will send their Opening Day starters to the mound. Freddy Peralta will get the start and face Logan Webb of the Giants. First pitch is set for 8:45 p.m. again, and it will be on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.