Garza returns from DL, guides Brewers past Indians
MILWAUKEE -- Jean Segura took some good-natured ribbing during batting practice Tuesday from Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell and coach Mike Guerrero about his lack of pop lately.
Counsell and Guerrero will need some new material when joking with their shortstop from now on.
Segura hit a two-run homer for his first extra-base hit in more than six weeks, and the Brewers beat the Cleveland Indians 8-1 behind Matt Garza.
"I need to get a home run, double or whatever," Segura said of his thoughts after being teased during batting practice. "Finally, I got a fastball right down the middle. I was trying to put a good swing on it and hit it out of the ballpark."
It was Segura's first extra-base hit since June 5, a span of 192 plate appearances. He had 38 singles in that time.
"He had a really good early batting practice today, and we were kind of joking about it," Counsell said of Segura's power drought.
"It's one of those things," the manager added. "He's got it in him for sure. He was happy. It's been a while since his last home run."
Garza (5-10) pitched six shutout innings in his return from the disabled list. The right-hander scattered six hits, walked two and struck out four. He held the Indians hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Cleveland starter Danny Salazar (8-5) allowed only two hits through six innings but was hurt by both in losing his first start since the All-Star break.
Gerardo Parra hit Salazar's first pitch for the first of his two triples. Parra scored on a groundout, and Segura's home run in the second made it 3-0.
"After those first two innings, and today in general, I was feeling pretty good," Salazar said. "After those two innings I was able to keep the ball down and throw my secondary pitches."
Cleveland grounded into three double plays against Garza, who had not pitched since July 2 due to tendinitis in his right shoulder. He did not make any minor league rehab starts.
"They are always huge, no matter what game," Garza said of the double plays. "It's a pitcher's best friend right there, groundball double plays."
The Indians had two runners on base in the second, fourth and fifth, but failed to score during Garza's 83 pitches.
Salazar walked three and struck out eight.
Milwaukee has won four consecutive games and 17 of 23 but remains in last place in the NL Central. Cleveland has lost four of six.
Brewers reserve outfielder Shane Peterson had a pinch-hit single and has six hits in his last six pinch-hitting appearances.
"MAJOR LEAGUE" NIGHT
The Brewers commemorated the 1989 movie that filmed many of its baseball scenes at Milwaukee's County Stadium, and it drew the attention of Indians manager Terry Francona, who appeared in the movie briefly. "It was quick, so I don't think they are sending me any royalties," Francona said. The team gave away 4,000 bobbleheads of Harry Doyle, the radio play-by-play character in the movie played by Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker.
INTERNATIONAL SIGNINGS
The Brewers announced the signing of seven international players, including catcher Jose Sibrian from Venezuela. The others were catcher Moises Perez, shortstop Luis Avila and center fielders Jesus Lujano, all from Venezuela, right fielder Bryan Connell from Panama, and shortstops Aaron Familia and Luis Manon from the Dominican Republic. All the players have reported to the team's academy in the Dominican Republic.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers righty Wily Peralta allowed one run in five innings for Double-A Biloxi in a rehab start against Mobile. On the disabled list with a strained left oblique, Peralta yielded three hits and one walk while striking out five. Before the game, Counsell said no decision had been made about whether Peralta would rejoin the Brewers following his minor league start.
UP NEXT
Indians rookie Cody Anderson makes his fifth major league start Wednesday against the Brewers. Anderson has pitched at least 6 2-3 innings in each of his first four starts and is 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA.
Brewers righty Kyle Lohse, having one of his worst seasons with a 5-10 record and 6.17 ERA, will make his first start since the All-Star break. The 36-year-old Lohse has struggled against the Indians, going 8-9 with a 5.45 ERA in 24 games vs. Cleveland.
