Twins 7, Brewers 3: Heavily taxed bullpen collapses in decisive seventh inning for first loss of year
Curt HoggThe Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up a two-game series with the Minnesota Twins by blowing a late lead and losing, 7-3, for their first loss of the season Wednesday at American Family Field.
Rhys Hoskins and Jackson Chourio homered for the Brewers, but Joel Payamps and Bryse Wilson combined to allow five runs in a decisive seventh inning as a 3-1 ballooned into a three-run deficit.
Milwaukee dropped to 4-1.
Box score:Twins 7, Brewers 3
Twins crush Brewers bullpen in seventh to take the lead
Pitching for the fourth time in six days, Payamps got hit around by the Twins as they rallied to take the lead. Payamps entered the seventh with a 3-1 lead before giving up consecutive doubles to Alex Kiriloff and Byron Buxton, then Carlos Correa lined a game-tying single to left with one out.
All things Brewers: Latest Milwaukee Brewers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
Bryse Wilson came in and allowed a three-run homer to Ryan Jeffers on a full count with two outs in the inning. The Twins led, 6-3.
Jackson Chourio hits first home run
Chourio had checked off nearly all of his career firsts prior to Wednesday's game, yet an important one remained: his first home run.
Chourio knocked that one off the list in the fifth inning, taking a hanging slider from reliever Daniel Duarte and hitting it out to right-center field to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead.
Twins threaten but Brewers escape the fifth with a 2-1 lead
After Brewers starter Joe Ross couldn't complete the fourth inning in large part due to five walks, manager Pat Murphy had to turn the game over to his bullpen early.
Hoby Milner allowed a pair of singles to lead off the fifth and gave way to JB Bukauskas with two on and one out. Bukauskas, who was recalled from Class AAA Wednesday morning, walked Carlos Correa and fell behind Carlos Santana three balls to no strikes, but ultimately got him out with a run-scoring fielder's choice grounder.
Willi Castro hit a rocket to right but it was right to Chourio for the final out to keep the Brewers' 2-1 lead intact.
Rhys Hoskins hits first homer in Milwaukee as a Brewer
A crusher of Brewers pitching when he would visit American Family Field as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, Hoskins hit five homers in 10 games as a visitor in Milwaukee. He launched his first at the stadium wearing a home jersey, taking a sitting duck of a changeup from Twins starter Chris Paddack and keeping it fair down the left-field line for a solo home run in the fourth inning
Hoskins had hit into an inning-ending double play his first time up against Paddock with the bases loaded in the first.
Brewers get on the board first
After squandering a bases-loaded, one-out chance in the first inning, the Brewers pieced together a small scoring rally in the second. Sal Frelick led off with an infield single, stole second, moved to third on Joey Ortiz's base hit and then scored on a Brice Turang sacrifice fly.
Brewers starting lineup
- Jackson Chourio RF
- William Contereras C
- Christian Yelich LF
- Willy Adames SS
- Rhys Hoskins 1B
- Sal Frelick CF
- Gary Sanchez DH
- Joey Ortiz 3B
- Brice Turang 2B
Twins starting lineup
- Edouard Julien 2B
- Alex Kiriloff LF
- Byron Buxton DH
- Max Kepler RF
- Carlos Correa SS
- Carlos Santana 1B
- Willi Castro CF
- Ryan Jeffers C
- Kyle Farmer 3B
Starting pitchers for Brewers and Twins
The Brewers are starting right-hander Joe Ross. It is his first career start with the Brewers and he last pitched in the majors in 2021.
The Twins are starting right-hander Chris Paddack. He has a 4.28 ERA across seven games in two years with the Twins.
What is the Brewers record?
The Brewers are 4-1.
Up next
Brewers vs. Mariners, 7:10 p.m. Friday. Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Seattle RHP Logan Gilbert. Broadcast: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin Radio – 620-AM.
Brewers vs. Mariners, 6:10 p.m. Saturday Milwaukee LHP DL Hall vs. Seattle RHP Bryce Miller. Broadcast: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin Radio – 620-AM.
Brewers vs. Mariners, 1:10 p.m. Sunday. Milwaukee RHP Colin Rea vs. Seattle RHP Emerson Hancock Broadcast: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin Radio – 620-AM.
Roof status at American Family Field
The roof is closed.