Brewers upend Braves 5-0
MILWAUKEE — Marco Estrada pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, Rickie Weeks and Aramis Ramirez homered and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0 Tuesday night.
The Brewers won their eighth in a row at Miller Park and reached the .500 mark for the first time since April 24. Milwaukee has surged back into the NL wild-card race by winning 17 of 22 overall, and beat the wild card-leading Braves for the second straight day.
Estrada (3-6) was dominant from the start, allowing only two singles to Andrelton Simmons in the first five innings.
Estrada allowed four hits in 6 2-3 innings and struck out six.
Good defense helped Estrada keep the Braves off the scoreboard in the seventh. After a one-out single by Dan Uggla, Lyle Overbay hit a drive into the gap and right fielder Norichka Aoki made a leaping catch to prevent an extra-base hit.
Estrada was replaced by Jim Henderson, who got Simmons to ground out to end the inning.
Four Milwaukee pitchers combined on a five-hitter.
Tim Hudson (14-6) was almost as good for the Braves early in the game. Other than Weeks’ 18th home run in the first, he allowed only an infield single to Jean Segura in his first five innings.
Hudson gave up four runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings.
The Brewers broke away in the seventh by scoring three times. Segura drove in the first run with a grounder, pinch hitter Taylor Green had an RBI single and Aoki doubled home another run.
Ramirez hit his 23rd home run in the eighth.
NOTES: Brewers 1B Corey Hart was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game with plantar fascia on his left foot. He is listed as day-to-day and Brewers manager Ron Roenicke is hopeful he will be able to play Wednesday against the Braves. ... Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said RHP Ben Sheets felt no pain Tuesday, one day after throwing a simulated game. Gonzalez said Sheets, who has been on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation since Aug. 26, could be activated either Wednesday or Friday. ... Brewers RHP Yovani Gallardo (14-8) will face Braves LHP Paul Maholm (12-9) in the series finale Wednesday.