MILWAUKEE (AP) — Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jered Weaver shut out the Milwaukee Brewers for four innings Monday night. A critical error and a clutch hit by a light-hitting pitcher turned the outing sour.
Milwaukee broke through in the fifth against Weaver on the way to an 8-5 victory when left fielder Rafael Ortega misplayed Yadiel Rivera's liner, allowing Aaron Hill to score from first as the ball rolled to wall.
"You have to be able to put it aside and pitch. I wasn't able to," Weaver said.
Weaver then surrendered a hit to Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson, who entered the game with just one hit in 11 at-bats this season. Nelson drove in Rivera with his second single of the game to put the Brewers in front 2-1.
In 89 career at-bats before Monday, Nelson had just 10 hits, one walk, had struck out 50 times and never had more than one hit in a game. He squared to bunt against Weaver in the fifth, before pulling the bat back and smacking a single to right.
"I didn't want to walk him. He did what he was supposed to," Weaver said.
With two outs in the inning, Weaver intentionally walked Ryan Braun, but the strategy backfired when Jonathan Lucroy doubled to drive in two more runs, putting Milwaukee up 4-1.
Milwaukee sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth and added four runs.
Weaver (3-1) surrendered seven runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings.
"He got through four innings and it looked like he was hitting his spots," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "But as the game went on I think his command strayed a little bit."
Nelson (4-2) retired 15 of 16 batters at one point before giving up a solo home run to Mike Trout in the sixth. He allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings.
Trout had four hits in five at-bats for the Angels, who brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth before Jeremy Jeffress retired Ji-Man Choi with the bases loaded.
Braun reached base four times as the Brewers ended an eight-game home losing streak to the Angels, the last win coming in May 1997 at County Stadium. Milwaukee had lost six straight to the Angels at Miller Park.
COLLISION COURSE
After a crew chief review, Albert Pujols was ruled safe on a play at the plate after sliding into the left leg of Lucroy, the Brewers' catcher, who appeared to block the plate. Pujols, who had doubled, tried to score on pinch-hitter C.J. Cron's eighth-inning single but initially was called out on a tag by Lucroy. The call was overturned after a review that lasted 4 minutes, 32 seconds.
"There's no doubt that five years ago you are telling Jonathan Lucroy, 'Hey, great play.' But the way the rules are written now there's no doubt that it influenced Albert's slide," Scioscia said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: An MRI on Monday on P Tyler Skaggs revealed biceps tendinitis. Skaggs, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, was scratched from a scheduled start last week at Triple-A Salt Lake City because of fatigue. He will be re-evaluated in one week. ... OF Daniel Nava, who has been battling knee tendinitis, began a rehab assignment at Class A-Inland Empire on Monday and could rejoin the Angels by the weekend. ... OF Craig Gentry, who is on the 15-day DL with a lumbar spine strain, is receiving therapy in Dallas, where he resides.
Brewers: OF Domingo Santana, Milwaukee's leadoff hitter, was a last-minute scratch due to right shoulder tightness.
UP NEXT
Angels: Nick Tropeano (1-0, 2.11 ERA) will be making his first career start against the Brewers. Has allowed two runs or less in all four of his starts this season.
Brewers: Junior Guerra will make his first major league start. He was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he was 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA in four starts. Guerra has appeared in three major league games, all in relief last season with the Chicago White Sox.
