Chourio hits home run and Brewers beat Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – Jackson Chourio hit a two-run home run, Frankie Montas pitched six scoreless innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 on Thursday night, taking another step toward winning the NL Central.

The Brewers, who have a nine-game lead over Chicago in the division, won two of three games against the Giants, reducing their magic number to seven.

The game was scoreless until Milwaukee's Willy Adames reached base on a walk in the seventh inning and rounded the bases on three wild pitches from Camilo Doval (0-1). Milwaukee extended the lead when Chourio hit a two-run shot against Spencer Bivens in the eighth inning and Brice Turang scored after reaching base on an infield single.

The 20-year-old Chourio became the youngest player to have a season with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in MLB history.

The Giants got the tying run on base with one out in the ninth inning after Mark Canha singled and Jerar Encarnacion hit a double to the left end of Brewers closer Devin Williams. Williams responded by throwing out Grant McCray and forcing pinch hitter Patrick Bailey to a groundout for his 11th save.

The Giants had a runner in scoring position six times and were never able to score a run.

There were just four hits in the game in six innings – two for each side – with Montas (7-10) recording eight strikeouts and San Francisco starter Hayden Birdsong recording four strikeouts in five innings.

No runner got past second base until Adames scored.

The Giants had a chance to take the lead in the fourth after back-to-back walks with two outs, but Montas got Encarnacion to hit a line out to right. Curt Casali hit a one-out double in the fifth but fell by the wayside.

Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill threw scoreless innings for Milwaukee before Williams came on in the ninth inning.

TRAINING ROOM

Brewers: Reliever Enoli Paredes was activated from the 60-day injured list after being sidelined for more than two months with forearm soreness. LHP Rob Zastryzny's season is over after being placed on the 60-day injured list with elbow tendinitis that has kept him out of action since July. Giants: RHP Robbie Ray is expected to participate in pregame warmups on Friday to evaluate his lingering left thigh soreness. Leadoff hitter Tyler Fitzgerald was removed from the game early with lower back tightness.

Next

The Giants will play a series against the Padres on Friday. Dylan Cease (12-11, 3.71 ERA) is on the mound for San Diego. San Francisco has not yet named a starter.