Carter's blast leads Brewers to win over Braves
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers needed home-run power from Chris Carter, and he provided it.
Carter hit a three-run homer, Chase Anderson won his third straight decision and the Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Wednesday night.
"We have been scuffling to score runs," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "The three-run homer cures that. You almost expect it from Chris. It was in an important spot, certainly."
Braves interim manager Brian Snitker agreed that Carter was the difference maker.
"You make a mistake to that big guy, he's going to make you pay. That's what he does," Snitker said. "Good ball game, other than the three-run homer. That's about it, really."
The Braves won 4-3 in 12 innings on Monday and 2-1 on Tuesday.
"It's nice to get a few runs on the board," Carter said. "We've struggled the last couple games scoring runs and have lost a couple of close ones."
Anderson (7-10) allowed two runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three, helping the Brewers snap a three-game skid.
Tyler Thornburg picked up his fourth save in eight chances with a perfect ninth.
Carter connected on a 1-2 pitch from starter Joel De la Cruz (0-5) during a four-run third. Ryan Braun singled in the first run and then Carter hit his 26th homer.
De La Cruz left after getting hit in the right knee by Orlando Arcia's two-out grounder in the fourth. The ball deflected to first baseman Freeman, who tagged Arcia to end the inning.
De La Cruz hobbled off the field under his own power. The Braves said he has a right knee contusion, X-rays were negative and he is day-to-day.
"There was no way he was going back out there," Snitker said. "He got squared up pretty good. I think he'll be OK. We'll see what he's like in the morning and the next day."
Freeman pulled the Braves within 4-2 when he led off the fourth with a homer and made it 4-3 when he hit the first pitch from Corey Knebel in the eighth just inside the left-field foul pole for his 21st homer. It was his second multihomer game this season and the eighth of his career.
A.J. Pierzynski doubled, took third on De La Cruz's sacrifice and scored on Ender Inciarte's base hit in the top of the third.
De La Cruz allowed four runs and seven hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out two in his third start since returning to the rotation.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he has a "good appreciation" for how difficult it is for Rangers slugger Prince Fielder to be forced to quit baseball after a second neck surgery. Counsell, a former teammate of Fielder's in Milwaukee, had the same injury, treated with the same surgery by the same doctor.
"The game really never lets anybody go when they completely want to," Counsell said. "For him, he should still be in the middle of a great career. It's sad it has to happen like that."
Carter's home run in the third made it a season-high 13 consecutive games in which the Brewers have gone deep.
RHP Julio Teheran (right lat strain) is scheduled for a side session Thursday. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 2. Snitker said Teheran would make a minor league start before coming off the disabled list.
Pierzynski caught his 1,933rd career game, the most among active catchers.
Braves: RHP John Gant worked four innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett. He allowed two runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts. He's on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain. . . . C Tyler Flowers (left hand fracture) is getting closer to coming off the disabled list.
Brewers: OF Domingo Santana (right elbow soreness) will play in his third game of a rehab assignment on Thursday with Class A Wisconsin. . . . The Astros designated CF Carlos Gomez for assignment Wednesday after trading with the Brewers to get him last July. Asked if he'd like Gomez back, Counsell said, "I don't know what's going on with Carlos this year. I know he's had a rough year, but he'll bounce back. He enjoyed it here."
Braves: RHP Roberto Hernandez (1-0, 5.40 ERA), formerly known as Fausto Carmona, makes his second start since having his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett on Aug. 6.
Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (3-4, 5.03) looks for his first win over the Braves. He is 0-4 with a 4.93 ERA in six career starts against them.
