Anderson stifles A's as Brewers shut out Oakland 4-0
MILWAUKEE -- It was Chase Anderson's turn against the short-handed Oakland Athletics, and he won, too.
Anderson pitched 6 2/3 strong innings, Scooter Gennett drove in three runs and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Athletics 4-0 on Wednesday night.
Tuesday night, Zach Davies took a no-hitter into the seventh before allowing a two-out home run to Billy Butler, but Milwaukee hung on for a 5-4 win.
Anderson was nearly as good, holding Oakland hitless until there was one out in the sixth.
"When you see guys in front of you pitch well, you just step your game up a little bit and pitch as good as him, if not better," Anderson said. "Zach's has been throwing the ball well in front of me. So, I am just trying to pitch just as good, if not a little better than him."
Oakland was without Danny Valencia (.343 batting average) and Khris Davis (14 home runs, 36 RBIs) in both games. Valencia is battling a stomach bug while Davis is recovering from numbness and tingling in his left hand after getting hit in the elbow with a pitch on Saturday against Houston.
Anderson (4-6) retired the first nine batters before Coco Crisp reached on first baseman Chris Carter's error leading off the fourth. Anderson stranded Crisp, retiring the next seven batters before pinch-hitter Jake Smolinski beat a shift and broke up the right-hander's second notable no-hit bid this season.
Anderson jammed Smolinski with a pitch in, which he fought off and grounded through the gap between second and first.
"He used the pool stick and got the cue ball where he is supposed to get it," Anderson said.
Jed Lowrie singled cleanly in the seventh, and one out later, Anderson left to a nice ovation from the sparse crowd.
Anderson improved to 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in his last five starts, including a near no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs on May 17 that snapped a five-game losing streak.
Gennett keyed the offense off Jesse Hahn (2-4) with a run-scoring single in the first and a two-run base hit in the fourth. Ramon Flores hit a sacrifice fly in the second, but the Brewers blew a chance to pad the lead when they left the bases loaded.
Hahn allowed four runs on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout in 3 2/3 innings in his fifth start since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on May 17.
The loss extended the Athletics' losing streak on the road to a season-high seven games. They are 0-5 on this eight-game road trip, losing three to Houston before coming to Milwaukee. The Athletics head to Cincinnati for three games, starting Friday.
VILLAR MAKES IT 22
Jonathan Villar singled in the first, stole his major league-leading 22nd base and scored on Gennett's base hit.
HILL TO MISS START
LHP Rich Hill will miss his scheduled start on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds. Manager Bob Melvin said Hill experienced trouble with his groin strain during a bullpen session. "We've got to be sure he's good enough to pitch," Melvin said. "It was still bothering him a little bit. So, he will not pitch this weekend."
Melvin said that putting the big lefty on the disabled list was a definite possibility. Hill leads the staff with an 8-3 record and 2.25 ERA in 11 starts.
RHP Kendall Graveman (2-6, 5.49 ERA) will be moved up to pitch Saturday. LHP Sean Manaea (2-4, 6.20 ERA) will start on Sunday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: Three pitchers on the disabled list are scheduled to make rehab starts. RHP R.J. Alvarez (right elbow surgery) goes Thursday and RHP Liam Hendriks (right triceps strain) Friday for Nashville. RHP Henderson Alvarez (right shoulder surgery) pitches Monday for Class A Stockton.
Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (right lat) makes a rehab start on Thursday with Class A Wisconsin. He is expected to throw about 75 pitches in his fourth start overall. He has yet to pitch in the majors this season.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray (3-5, 5.77 ERA) makes his second start Friday since coming off the 15-day disabled list Sunday. He faces the visiting Cincinnati Reds for the first time in his career. He is 3-2 with a 3.21 ERA in eight career interleague appearances, including seven starts.
Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (5-4, 3.43 ERA) looks to make his team-leading ninth quality start on Thursday night facing RHP Bartolo Colon (4-3, 3.27) and the New York Mets. He is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in three previous starts against them.
