Brewers top Giants 5-2 behind Anderson’s shutout start

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers starter Chase Anderson extended his shutout streak to a career-best 21.2 innings in a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night at Miller Park.

He only needed to strike out four batters to get the job done, but the Brewers bullpen struggled to contain the Giants hitters. Carlos Torres finished off the eighth inning, but not before giving up three hits and two runs (one earned). Corey Knebel came in to get the save in the ninth, his sixth of the year.

The Milwaukee offense provided Anderson some breathing room after putting up four runs in the second inning. Hernan Perez went yard, while Eric Sogard provided a pair of two-out RBIs.

“The guys swinging the bat, you could really just relax today,” Anderson said. “It was nice going out there and having a lead and trying to run with that.”

Anderson provided himself with a little run support with an RBI double in the third inning. That was good for his first career extra-base hit.

“That was fun, for sure. I didn’t really know where second base was,” Anderson said.

Before the game, manager Craig Counsell gave an update on the status of pitcher Matt Garza and his chest contusion. Garza’s bullpen session was cut short because of lingering pain from the injury, shutting down any chance of him getting the start in Thursday’s series finale with the Giants.

    Brewers fall to Giants in Phillips’ debut

    MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Brett Phillips made his Major League debut Monday night, but it came in a 7-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

    Junior Guerra held the Giants to two runs (one earned) over five innings, scattering seven hits. But bullpen struggles once again doomed the Crew, as five runs crossed the plate over the final two innings.

    “Tonight was a night we didn’t do a good enough job offensively, but we certainly have to get some guys getting some outs down there,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Rob [Scahill] was a pitch away from getting out of the inning, but that’s a big spot, and a spot where you’ve got to make a pitch.”

    Counsell was referring to the bases-loaded double from former Brewers Aaron Hill in the eighth inning. Milwaukee’s offense was stifled by San Francisco starter Jeff Samardzija, who went 7.2 innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing just a single earned run on seven hits.

    One of those hits allowed was to Phillips, who was called up from Triple A Colorado Springs earlier in the day to replace Travis Shaw (paternity leave). The 23-year-old finished 1-for-3 at the plate with an up-and-down performance on defense. He gunned down Denard Span on an attempted double, but also dropped a fly ball in the eighth inning.

    “If I could, I would trade the base hit and throwing the guy out [for a win], but that’s the game of baseball,” Phillips said. “You’ve got to come back tomorrow and go out there and play hard.”