Brewers open series with 4-1 win over Phillies

By foxsports
Published

PHILADELPHIA -- Playing worry-free baseball has Jonathan Villar in a groove.

Villar and Chris Carter homered, Chase Anderson pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the reeling Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 Thursday night.

Acquired from Houston in the offseason, Villar is batting .305 with his new team. He was the Astros' shortstop last year until Carlos Correa was called up to the majors.

"I'm more comfortable because I know I'll be in there every day," Villar said. "I just go out and play my best."

Anderson (3-6) allowed one run and three hits, striking out six in 5 2/3 innings to help Milwaukee win its eighth straight game in Philadelphia.

Maikel Franco homered for the Phillies, who have lost seven in a row.

Jerad Eickhoff (2-8) gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander left after a hard one-hopper back to the mound bounced off the inside of his left ankle. X-rays were negative.

"Nothing serious," Eickhoff said.

Phillies reliever Hector Neris pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth. He struck out Carter, retired pinch-hitter Alex Presley on a second-to-home fielder's choice and fanned Aaron Hill to end the inning.

But Milwaukee's bullpen shut down Philadelphia's offense.

Will Smith got four outs in his season debut, Tyler Thornburg had two strikeouts in a perfect eighth and Jeremy Jeffress finished for his 14th save in 15 tries.

Villar hit a two-run homer off Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez to make it 4-1 in the ninth.

"His home run was obviously impressive," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "The only thing he can't do is hit home runs and now he's hit two big ones."

Carter drove his 14th homer to the seats in left-center for a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Franco lined one out to left in the bottom half.

The Phillies had a runner on third with one out in the sixth, but Anderson struck out Jimmy Paredes swinging. Smith entered to retire Franco on a liner to right.

"Wanted it pretty bad," Anderson said of the strikeout. "They're an aggressive team. They're swinging the bats. Was trying to get a weak grounder or strikeout. Then our bullpen did a great job."

Hill gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI double.

STANDINGS

Milwaukee has won seven of 10 to improve to 25-29. The Phillies fell to 26-28 with their 11th loss in 13 games.

ROUGH START

Paredes, acquired from Toronto on Wednesday, started in right field and batted third for the Phillies. He struck out in his first three at-bats after fanning in a pinch-hit appearance one night earlier. Paredes broke the streak with a double in the ninth.

ROSTER SHUFFLE

The Phillies activated LF Cody Asche from the disabled list and designated OF David Lough for assignment. Asche missed the first two months because of an oblique strain. He was 0 for 2.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: LHP Mario Hollands was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is returning from Tommy John surgery.

UP NEXT

RHP Jimmy Nelson (5-3, 2.88 ERA) starts for the Brewers on Friday night against Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez (5-2, 3.63).