Giants break out the brooms against Brewers

Share this: Email | Facebook | X

SAN FRANCISCO - The Brewers' continued slump has left manager Ned Yost speechless.

Pedro Feliz scored from first base on Rich Aurilia's single to right field in the eighth inning, lifting the San Francisco Giants to a 5-4 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday and completing a three-game sweep.

"The way we've been playing right now, we need to find ways to be a better team," Yost said. "And that's all I have to say."

The Brewers continue to trail the Chicago Cubs by 11Ú2 games in the NL Central, and have lost four in a row and seven of their last 10 to drop to 25-40 on the road.

With two outs, Aurilia hit a high fly ball off Scott Linebrink (4-5) that landed near right fielder Corey Hart, second baseman Rickie Weeks and the foul line. Feliz scored easily when Hart's throw traveled up the third base line.

Aurilia thought the ball would be caught and appeared disgusted after hitting it.

"Fortunately there were two outs and Pedro was running the whole way," Aurilia said. "I just found a lucky spot to drop it in."

Steve Kline (1-2) pitched the eighth for his first win of the season and Brad Hennessey got the final three outs for his 14th save in 16 chances, including the last 11 in a row.

"Come-from-behind wins are always more exciting," Hennessey said. "It's huge for us to get on a good run right now and build for next year."

Guillermo Rodriguez hit a two-run shot, his first career homer, off Brewers starter Dave Bush to tie the game at four in the seventh inning.

The 29-year-old Rodriguez, who spent the last 11 years toiling in the minors, said he had to give up four hats and a used bat to get the ball back.

"It's amazing. My first home run ties the game," said Rodriguez, whose last five hits have all been for extra bases. "I've hit home runs in the minors but I think this was the right moment. It was kind of cool - the ball just kept going."

Bush retired 14 of 15 hitters before giving up a pair of doubles in the sixth. He got out of that inning but couldn't survive the seventh. He gave up four runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings, striking out four and walking one.

"The home run was a cutter but it wasn't a good pitch," Bush said. "There were five guys I'd never seen before and not much of a scouting report to go on."

Giants starter Tim Lincecum allowed four runs - three earned - and seven hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Ryan Braun, who came into the series in a 3-for-28 slump, gave the Brewers a 4-1 advantage with his three-run homer in the third. He has played in only 90 games, but is three homers shy of tying the Brewers' rookie home run record of 28 set by Prince Fielder last season.

The third baseman, a leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, had five hits in 13 at-bats against Giants pitching and is batting .389 (14-for-36) against them this season.

The Giants took a 1-0 lead in the first without a hit. Dave Roberts walked, stole second, went to third on Rajai Davis' sacrifice bunt and scored on Randy Winn's slow roller to first.

Geoff Jenkins doubled to lead off the second and later scored when J.J. Hardy singled to tie it at one.