Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MIAMI (AP) — Carlos Gomez added another impressive offensive performance during his breakout season.
Gomez had four hits, including two triples, drove in three runs, and scored three runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 10-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.
“He had a very big night, two triples,” said Jonathan Lucroy, who drove in four runs.
“Anytime you have a guy with that kind of speed and a ballpark this big, things like that are going to happen. He did very well for us tonight and a big part of the win.”
Gomez, a .247 hitter coming into the season, raised his batting average to .326 on the year with 11 home runs, eight triples, and 36 RBIs in 63 games.
“He has put together quite a season so far,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “I had to move him into the third spot with (Ryan) Braun out and he just continues to have good at-bats. He’ll get down two strikes and next thing I know he’s going the other way, which is what the good hitters do. He’s been impressive.”
It was the eighth four-hit game in Gomez’s career. Gomez had two unimpressive stints with the Mets and Twins before landing in Milwaukee in 2010.
“He has learned a lot,” Roenicke said. “He’s smarter, his approach is better so it’s playing more, but it’s also he has a better idea of what he’s doing at the plate.”
His biggest play of the game came in the sixth.
With the Brewers already leading 6-0, Gomez smacked a three-run triple, his third of the series, off Edgar Olmos to score three runs and scored on the play as Derek Dietrich’s errant relay throw ended up in the stands.
“I saw bases were loaded and tried to put contact on, I knew that guy threw really hard,” Gomez said.
“I was looking for something middle-away, put good contact on it, and I hit a triple.”
Jean Segura homered for the Brewers, who have won five of six.
“The last week and a half we’ve been playing really good,” Gomez said. “The starting pitching has been awesome. You’re more pumped up when you see the starting pitching be more consistent.”
Alfredo Figaro (1-0) pitched seven scoreless innings to earn his first victory since Sept. 26, 2009, at the Chicago White Sox. He retired 16 in a row at one point and struck out four.
“That was the first win in a while even in Japan, no wins (in a while), so I’m glad that I got the win and helped the team too,” Figaro said.
Both Gomez and Lucroy had bases-clearing triples as the two combined to go 12 for 24 with 12 RBIs in the three-game series.
“Give those guys some credit, they’re swinging the bats good and that’s a potent lineup right now that’s got a lot of guys swinging the bat really well,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said.
It was the largest margin of victory for the Brewers this season.
Miami starter Kevin Slowey (2-6) allowed six runs — five earned — and nine hits in five innings.
He was on three days’ rest after he pitched seven scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory in Saturday’s 2-1, 20-inning win over the Mets.
“Today’s game had less to do with rest and more to do with me executing pitches,” Slowey said.
Slowey is 0-4 with an 8.89 ERA in his past six starts.
Lucroy gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead in the first with his three-run triple to right-center as the ball rolled to the wall.
Segura hit his 10th home run of the season in the third for a 4-0 advantage.
Norichika Aoki and Lucroy added sacrifice flies in the fourth and fifth to push the lead to 6-0.
Ed Lucas had two of Miami’s five hits and Giancarlo Stanton drove in the Marlins only run in the ninth.
NOTES: Brewers LF Ryan Braun (right thumb) missed his third consecutive game and has not taken batting practice since being removed from Sunday’s game. Braun is hopeful that he will be in the lineup for the weekend series at Cincinnati. ... Marlins 1B Logan Morrison (right knee) was given the day off after playing three straight games following being reinstated from the disabled list after being sidelined for the first 61 games. ... Miami RHP Henderson Alvarez will make his first rehab start with Class A Jupiter on Thursday. ... Both teams are off on Thursday as the Marlins will send RHP Jose Fernandez (3-3, 3.17 ERA) to the mound on Friday to begin a home series against St. Louis. RHP Kyle Lohse (2-6, 4.03) will start for Milwaukee against Cincinnati RHP Bronson Arroyo (6-5, 3.35 ERA).