Veteran additions assist Crew pad NL Central lead

MILWAUKEE — In buying Carlos Santana and Mark Canha earlier than the Trade Deadline, the Brewers added a pair of regular veterans to their lineup who may assist down the stretch and into October.

“[Santana] and Mark, the consistency is really what I feel like we’ve got,” supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned Saturday afternoon. “For both of them, there’s a walk in there. It’s low-strikeout [rates], and there’s a home run in there.”

Case in level: Saturday’s 7-5 win over the Phillies at American Family Field.

• Games remaining: vs. PHI (1), at PIT (3), at NYY (3), vs. MIA (4), vs. WAS (3), at STL (4), at MIA (3), vs. STL (3), vs. CHC (3)

• Standings replace: Brewers maintain a 4 1/2-game lead over the Cubs atop the National League Central. With head-to-head data figuring out a potential tiebreaker, the golf equipment are tied 5-5 with three video games remaining within the season collection.

Canha went 2-for-3 with a stroll, two doubles and an RBI, whereas Santana completed 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a stroll. Canha’s one-out double kickstarted a three-run rally within the second inning, and Santana’s homer was a part of a four-run rally within the fifth.

“Certainly, those were the two guys that had some big hits, for sure,” Counsell mentioned. “Carlos’ home run and Mark with just a bunch of good at-bats — like we’re getting accustomed to seeing. Those guys did a nice job, and then offensively, we just did a nice job against a good starting pitcher.”

The Brewers chased Phillies starter Aaron Nola after 4 2/3 innings, tagging him for seven runs off eight hits and three walks. Their persistent offensive assault pressured him to throw 97 pitches.

The performances by Santana and Canha have been a continuation of sturdy particular person stretches on the plate. Each has been trending upward offensively.

Santana is on an 11-game hitting streak, throughout which he is slashing .366/.480/.659 with 9 walks and simply seven strikeouts. This follows a 17-game stretch to begin his Brewers profession by which he slashed simply .157/.181/.329 with two walks and 11 strikeouts.

As for Canha, he is slashing .364/.462/.523 over his previous 13 video games, with six walks and 9 strikeouts. He slashed .213/.283/.340 in 14 video games as a Brewer previous to this run.

Each of these stretches started on Aug. 18.

“I know what kind of players we are,” Santana mentioned. “My mental [state] right now is finishing strong and helping my team. So every at-bat, I’m focused on getting a good pitch and not trying to do too much. I feel much better. … Coming to a new team, new family, new clubhouse, new fans, new stadium. Try to finish strong and keep it up and help the more we can.”

Santana’s uptick in walks is probably as encouraging an indication as any, and an indication of the standard at-bats he’s placing collectively. He noticed 10 pitches towards Nola within the first inning, working a free go after falling behind 0-2.

His homer off Nola within the fifth got here on a full rely.

“He’s had some huge walk years, so he’s got those at-bats in him,” Counsell mentioned. “We actually didn’t see much of it the first, maybe, 10 days he was here — the walks. But they’ve started to come. Those long, extended at-bats — that’s always been him.”

The offensive efficiency backed a strong outing by starter Colin Rea, who allowed two runs off three hits over 4 1/3 innings. He allowed a leadoff homer to Kyle Schwarber, however he retired the ultimate 9 hitters he confronted whereas racking up six strikeouts and not using a stroll.

The win continued a formidable stretch by the Brewers, who’ve gained 11 of their previous 13 video games, relationship to their collection towards the Rangers. The two losses got here towards the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Santana mentioned the final couple of collection towards Chicago and Philadelphia — the highest two groups within the NL Wild Card image — have felt like playoff matchups. And enjoying in that kind of ambiance, with the excessive stakes of September baseball, has been enjoyable.

The two veteran commerce acquisitions proceed to play key roles.

“When you win, you’re happy,” Santana mentioned. “We’re in an ideal spot proper now. We’re making an attempt to win the division. Every recreation is essential to this group. I can see the vitality, the angle. Everything is optimistic.

“Tomorrow is a new game, new day — and [we’ll] see what happens. The energy on the team, they’ve played great the last 20 games since I’ve been here. The energy has been so different, and we believe.”