Brewers' Lohse tops Twins, giving him wins over all 30 teams
Kyle Lohse received early run support for all the cushion he needed to become the 14th pitcher in MLB history to beat all 30 active franchises.
Lohse pitched six effective innings and benefited from Milwaukee's six-run first inning to get his first win since May 16 as the Brewers beat the Twins 10-4 on Friday night.
"It's pretty cool," the 36-year-old right-hander said. "These guys tell me that I'm old and I've been around, but that's only the third time I've faced them so it's not like I've faced them a whole bunch of times and haven't beaten them."
Still Lohse (4-9) took satisfaction in the milestone victory.
"It's an accomplishment I'm proud of," he said. "I've been around and that proves I've had some longevity and done some things in this game. So I'll go home happy about that."
The 13-year veteran broke into the majors with the Twins in 2001, and spent six seasons in Minnesota before being traded to Cincinnati in exchange for right-hander Zach Ward on July 31, 2006.
Lohse gave up four runs and six hits, struck out two and walked one. He had lost three straight starts and was 0 for 5 with a 7.59 ERA in his last six. He had not won since beating the Mets 7-0 in New York.
Brian Dozier homered to lead off the game, but Gerardo Parra answered with his own leadoff clout in the bottom of the first that started an offense that's been struggling to score.
The Brewers batted around, scoring six runs on six hits. Jean Segura had a two-run double, Ryan Braun had a run-scoring single and then scored when starter Trevor May (4-6) threw wide of second on a fielder's choice. Lohse added the last run on a sacrifice that ended May's night. Alex Meyer took over in his major-league debut and retired the 10th and 11th batters of the inning on fly balls to end it.
"The error was big," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "That's a possible double play, so it's a big play. We had a chance to break it open in the first and tonight we did."
May got mixed up on who he wanted to throw the ball to after fielding Carlos Gomez's comebacker to the mound. May mistakenly tried to hit shortstop Eduardo Nunez who was running toward second for a force play and threw the ball behind him.
"Unfortunately, I had it in my head that I was picking up the wrong infielder," said May, who was charged with the six runs and six hits in just one-third of an inning. "When I saw he wasn't at the bag, I tried to hold onto the ball a little bit too long and airmailed it into center."
Lohse also gave up a homer to Trevor Plouffe, increasing his total to 19 allowed -- second-most in the majors -- in 16 starts. Colorado's Kyle Kendrick leads the way, having allowed 21.
Aramis Ramirez and Scooter Gennett also homered to power the Brewers and help spoil the return of fan favorite Paul Molitor, who is in his first year as manager of the Twins. The Hall of Famer spent the majority of his 21-year career in Milwaukee.
In the second, Ramirez lined his ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot, and Gennett hit a solo home run.
Neal Cotts pitched two scoreless innings and Jonathan Broxton finished the game with a perfect ninth.
Eddie Rosario hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice in the fourth and Plouffe hit a two-run shot in the sixth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: RHP Ricky Nolasco briefly threw off the rubber Friday. "It didn't go well," Molitor said. "My indication is it didn't take long for them to realize the symptoms are still the same. We just can't seem to find the solution to getting him back in the right direction." Nolasco has been on the 15-day DL since early April with right elbow inflammation. ... OF Aaron Hicks, sidelined since June 13, continues to make progress recovering from a right forearm strain. He played for Triple-A Rochester in a rehab assignment.
Brewers: OF Carlos Gomez and 3B Aramis Ramirez were back in the starting lineup after getting Thursday off to rest, though Gomez was used as a defensive replacement in the finale against the New York Mets. ... LF Khris Davis, on the 15-day DL with a torn meniscus in his right knee, ran the bases during batting practice. Manager Craig Counsell said Davis might be ready for a rehab assignment, possibly as early as next week.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (4-6) looks to snap a three-game losing streak facing the Brewers for the second time this season. He did not figure in the 10-5 home-field loss on June 5.
Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (4-9) makes his second start of the season against Minnesota. He beat them 4-2 at Target Field on June 6. He is 2-1 with a 1.65 ERA in four career starts against the Twins.
SWINGING FOR THE FENCE
Dozier hit his fourth leadoff home run this season and the 11th of his career.
MILESTONE REACHED
Adam Lind's base hit in the fourth was the 1,000th of his eight-year career.
