Jungmann pitches Crew to second straight win
PrintMILWAUKEE—After another strong outing, Milwaukee rookie Taylor Jungmann was asked if the novelty of being in the majors had worn off.
“It never will,” he said. “Once you try to relax, feel comfortable here, that’s when somebody will jump up and get you.”
Jungmann struck out a career-high eight and allowing six hits without a walk over seven innings in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 8-5 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
“The breaking ball was big today,” Jungmann said. “That’s how I expect to throw the breaking ball, and I haven’t really done that since I’ve been up. There’s been a couple of games where it’s been decent, but not like that. That was definitely the best I’ve thrown it all year.”
Jonathan Lucroy, Shane Peterson and Jean Segura each drove in two runs to help Milwaukee record back-to-back wins for the first time in 15 games.
Jungmann (6-3) has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight straight starts and in 10 of his 11.
After San Diego scored three runs in the ninth off Corey Knebel, Francisco Rodriguez recorded the final out for his 25th save in as many chances.
Padres starter Ian Kennedy (6-10) gave up four earned runs on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out seven without a walk, but San Diego still lost consecutive games for the first time since July 23.
That’s because Jungmann settled down after giving up a run and three hits in the first. Singles by Alexi Amarista and Yangervis Solarte were followed by a sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp, before Justin Upton singled. The right-hander then retired 17 of the next 18 batters he faced.
“Yeah, he was really good (after the first),” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “He got it going after that. That curveball, especially after the first, was a real weapon.”
In the bottom of the first, Lucroy hit a two-run blast to left field for his fourth of the year, and Peterson’s triple to right gave Milwaukee a 4-1 lead.
The Brewers added four more runs in the eighth, including two on a single to by Segura for a 7-2 lead.
Kennedy rejoined the team in Milwaukee on Tuesday after he left Saturday because of the birth of his fourth child the day before. He is 2-5 in his last eight starts.
“The flying back and forth was only one more flight than these guys had to go through on Sunday,” Kennedy said. “Overall, I felt pretty good physically. It was just minor tweaks I wish I could have made to a few batters in the first inning.”