Giants 13-2 Brewers (September 11, 2024) Match Report

SAN FRANCISCO – Mike Yastrzemski hit a home run and scored four runs, Blake Snell struck out eight times in five innings and the San Francisco Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers 13-2 on Wednesday night.

Jerar Encarnacion also hit a home run and had three RBIs, and Tyler Fitzgerald and Patrick Bailey each had three hits.

“Just good at-bats across the board,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We put (the Brewers) under pressure and got some big hits. (Seven of 15) at-bats with runners in scoring position makes a big difference.”

The Giants put pressure on Brewers starter Colin Rea (12-5) early, opening the game with two four-run innings. In the first inning, a passed ball to Brewers catcher Williams Contreras scored the first run. LaMonte Wade Jr. followed with an RBI single, and then Encarnacion hit a rare home run to the right outfield that gave the Giants a 4-0 lead.

Encarnacion's home run was the 75th home run by a right-handed hitter on the opposite side in Oracle Park history and the first by a Giants this season.

“I thought it had a chance to go because that's where most of its strength is,” Encarnacion said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “When I saw it go away, I knew it had a chance.”

The first four Giants batters had hits for four more runs in the second inning. Fitzgerald had an RBI double and Yastrzemski followed with a three-run homer. Yastrzemski got his fourth run in the fourth inning on an extra-base hit. Matt Chapman hit a home run later in the inning to extend the lead to 10-1.

Melvin said Yastrzemski is playing his best baseball of the year.

“It's impressive to watch him,” Melvin said. “And he prepares for the game every day. This time of year you get a little exhausted sometimes … but he's been fantastic here lately.”

San Francisco scored two more runs in the ninth inning against fielder Jake Bauers.

Snell (3-3) allowed one run and four hits to earn his first home win in a Giants uniform. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner rebounded after pitching just one inning in his last start. Snell, who entered the game after a sluggish start to the season with a 1.42 ERA in his previous 11 starts, said he still has a lot of work to do to get where he wants to be. He said his curveball is not as good as usual and he is working on his command.

“I'm not far off,” Snell said. “I need to get my timing better, get better synchronization, and then I'm in the zone. I like the way I think. I want to be in the zone. I want to attack the zone – but not doing it was pretty frustrating. But to make five today with what I had to fight is good. But the offense carried us.”

The Giants drew their lowest attendance of the season so far with 22,042 fans, after setting a previous record of 22,855 against the Diamondbacks a week earlier.

Rea lasted just four innings for the third straight game, allowing career-highs of 10 runs and 11 hits. The Brewers, who entered the day 8 1/2 games ahead of the Cubs in the NL Central, have lost five of seven games.

“It seemed like every ball they hit, there was no fielder there,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Tough call. But Colin held on, gave us four innings so we didn't have to go any deeper into our bullpen. He wasn't at his best, but I'm confident. … He's probably a little worn out, like a lot of people. But there's no time for that. He'll bounce back.”

TRAINING ROOM

Giants: RHP Jordan Hicks (right shoulder inflammation) pitched two innings and allowed two unearned runs in a rehab start with Single-A San Jose on Tuesday. Manager Bob Melvin was encouraged by the outing and Hicks' chances of returning to the big club this season. … LHP Robbie Ray (left hamstring strain) threw 42 pitches in a bullpen session on Wednesday, but Melvin said Ray stopped when he felt exhausted. He will be re-evaluated on Thursday.

Next

Giants RHP Hayden Birdsong (3-5, 5.19 ERA) is scheduled to start the final game of the series against Brewers RHP Frankie Montas (6-10, 4.69 ERA).

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