Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
MILWAUKEE – Willy Adames hit a three-run home run, Aaron Civale pitched six scoreless innings against his former team and the Milwaukee Brewers beat Cleveland 5-3 on Friday, ending the Guardians’ five-game winning streak.
José Ramírez hit a two-run homer and David Fry added a solo shot for Cleveland in this clash of division leaders.
Civale (4-8) began his major league career with Cleveland in 2019 and remained with the Guardians until they traded him to Tampa Bay on July 31, 2023. The Brewers acquired him from Tampa Bay on July 3 in exchange for minor league infielder Gregory Barrios.
Civale struck out four times, allowing just four hits and one walk. After going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his first five appearances with Milwaukee, he is 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in his last two starts.
It was the second time Civale faced the Guardians since leaving Cleveland. He allowed two runs in five innings on August 11 of last season as the Rays defeated the Guardians 9-8.
Adames gave Civale an early 3-0 lead with his two-out home run in the first inning – and almost earned a fan a truck.
His 431-footer, off an 0-1 fastball from Gavin Williams, landed in a section well behind the wall in right-center field, where a 2024 Toyota Tacoma is parked as part of a promotion. If a batted ball hits the Tacoma in flight, a fan wins the truck.
Unfortunately for Brewers fans, Adames’ shot hit the ground where the Tacoma was resting before the ball bounced and struck the underside of the truck.
The home run was Adames’ 10th three-run home run of the season, a franchise record. He has the most three-run home runs of any player in the majors this year.
The Brewers extended their lead to 4-0 in the third when Garrett Mitchell broke out of an 0-for-21 hole and Tyler Black brought home a double on an 0-2 pitch. Joey Ortiz tripled and scored on Brice Turang’s single to make it 5-0 in the fourth.
Williams (2-5) managed five strikeouts but allowed five runs, six hits and two walks in four innings. Pedro Avila, Eli Morgan and Scott Barlow combined to hold the Brewers hitless for the rest of the game.
The Guardians, who lead the league with 34 comeback wins this season, threatened to do so again when Ramírez and Fry hit a home run against Bryse Wilson in the eighth inning, both home runs coming on 3-2 pitches.
Ramírez hit a 418-footer into the second row of right-outfield bleachers, raising his RBI total this season to 100. Only New York Yankees hitter Aaron Judge (111) has scored more runs this season.
One out later, Fry hit a 410-foot hit over the center field wall.
Nick Mears replaced Wilson at that point and struck out Andrés Giménez and Johnkensy Noel to end the eighth inning. With usual closer Devin Williams unavailable after earning a save on each of the previous two days, Joel Payamps retired the team in order in the ninth inning, earning his sixth save in eight opportunities.
TRAINING ROOM
Brewers RHP Enoli Paredes (forearm tendinitis) recorded a strikeout and left the team in action in his only inning during a rehab assignment with Wisconsin on Friday.
Next
RHP Tanner Bibee (10-4, 3.39) will start for the Guardians and RHP Freddy Peralta (7-7, 4.11) will pitch for the Brewers when this three-game series continues on Saturday.
