Brandon Sproat picked up his first career win, working effectively into the sixth inning, and Joey Ortiz launched his first home run since last July, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-4 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres on Tuesday night in the opening game of a three-game set.
The Brewers stretched their winning streak to five games and improved to a season-best seven games above .500.
After falling behind 2-1, Milwaukee exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against Padres knuckleballer Matt Waldron (1-2). The rally began with a one-out double from William Contreras, followed by a walk to Jake Bauers and a single by Garrett Mitchell to load the bases. Sal Frelick then delivered a two-run single to left field, and David Hamilton beat out a bunt single to reload the bases. Ortiz followed with a sacrifice fly to center, and Brice Turang capped the inning with a two-run double down the left-field line, making it 6-2.
San Diego had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Xander Bogaerts reached on a fielder’s choice, Gavin Sheets walked, and both moved up on a wild pitch before Nick Castellanos lined a two-run single.
Miguel Andujar pulled the Padres within 6-3 in the sixth with a one-out solo homer, his third of the year. He later added an RBI double off Trevor Megill in the eighth to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Sproat (1-2) allowed three runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in his sixth start and eighth appearance of the season. He struck out six and walked two. The right-hander had gone 0-2 in four September starts as a rookie with the Mets last season.
Abner Uribe closed the door with a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save in five opportunities.
Waldron, who entered after opener Bradgley Rodriguez tossed a perfect first, was charged with six runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings.
Ortiz, who came into the game batting .181 with just one extra-base hit in 83 at-bats, put Milwaukee on the board first in the third inning. With two outs, he drove a 1-2 pitch from Waldron 395 feet to left field for his first homer since July 19 of last year against the Dodgers.
