Garrett Mitchell hit a tiebreaking leadoff homer in the seventh inning as the Milwaukee Brewers opened a three-game series against the visiting Cleveland Guardians with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday.
Brice Turang also socked a solo homer for Milwaukee, which won for the seventh time in the past 10 games. The game marked the major league debut of Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt, who went 0-for-3 and committed a throwing error.
Aaron Ashby (10-0), one of four Milwaukee relievers, earned the victory and leads the majors in wins. He gave up one run in one inning plus one batter. Trevor Megill retired the Guardians in order in the ninth for his ninth save.
Gabriel Arias had two hits and knocked in the lone run for Cleveland, which has lost seven of its past 10 games. The Guardians went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.
The Brewers took the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Mitchell went deep off Hunter Gaddis (1-2). The 440-foot blast was Mitchell’s fifth homer of the season.
Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi needed just 28 pitches to get through the first three innings and struck out Jackson Chourio to begin the fourth before Turang put the Brewers ahead with his 11th homer of the year.
Cecconi gave up one run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four.
Brewers starter Robert Gasser exited after 5 2/3 shutout innings, having allowed two hits and two walks while fanning five.
Gasser settled in after walking the first two batters in the second inning. He escaped unscathed when Stuart Fairchild struck out and Steven Kwan grounded into a double play.
The Guardians pulled even with a run in the top of the seventh. Fairchild drew a one-out walk and moved to second on wild pitch by Ashby. Kwan struck out, and Arias followed with a run-scoring single.
Ashby walked leadoff hitter Travis Bazzana in the eighth inning, then was replaced by Abner Uribe. With runners on the corners and two outs, Uribe fanned Kyle Manzardo to maintain the Brewers’ lead.
