Chad Patrick and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied with two runs in the eighth inning for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, snapping a six-game losing streak.
After being held to three hits through seven innings, the Brewers broke through for two runs in the eighth against right-hander Tyler Rogers (1-1), who relieved to open the inning.
David Hamilton opened with an infield single when Rogers was unable to barehand the slow roller toward third. Sal Frelick then reached on an error when catcher Brandon Valenzuela mishandled the dribbler in front of the plate.
William Contreras followed with an RBI single to right, sending Frelick to third. Frelick scored on Brice Turang’s groundout to second.
Aaron Ashby (4-0) got the win with a scoreless eighth. Abner Uribe finished with a perfect ninth for his first save.
The first six innings were a pitcher’s duel between Patrick and Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease.
The Blue Jays got their only run off Patrick in the first. Daulton Varsho drew a one-out walk, took third on a single by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and scored on Jesus Sanchez’s sacrifice fly to left.
Cease left with a 1-0 lead, allowing two hits over six innings, striking out six and walking three in a 106-pitch outing.
Patrick, a right-hander, matched his career-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out two and walking two.
The Brewers’ best chance against Cease was in the fifth when Joey Ortiz singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout, but the righty struck out Frelick to end the inning.
The six-game losing streak was Milwaukee’s longest since June 2023. The Brewers had an eight-game skid in June 2022.
