Weeks leads Brewers to 9-6 win over Mets
MILWAUKEE -- With starter Shaun Marcum struggling, the Milwaukee Brewers needed some help to prevent consecutive home losses for the first time in nearly a month.
Rickie Weeks provided plenty, going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in Milwaukee's 9-6 victory Saturday over the New York Mets at Miller Park.
Weeks, mired in the worst of slumps for most of the year, also reached on a fielder's choice and a walk, scored twice and drove in three. In his last 17 games, Weeks is hitting .343 with 19 runs scored. After hitting just .162 through the first 64 games of the season, Weeks has hit .278 since, raising his season average to .230.
"I've been swinging the bat pretty well for more than a couple of weeks," Weeks said. "Just keep coming back to the ballpark and working hard. That's all you can do."
For the second straight night, the Mets scored early, taking a 1-0 lead on Lucas Duda's RBI single in the first inning. Milwaukee came back in the bottom of the inning on Ryan Braun's 30th double of the season, scoring Weeks for Braun's 101st RBI of the season -- one behind NL leader Chase Headley of San Diego.
New York took back the lead in the fourth. Jordany Valdespin singled to open the inning then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Marcum struck out Kelly Shoppach, Valdespin stole third with Andres Torres batting. Torres walked and Jenrry Mejia laid down a sacrifice that allowed Valdespin to score. Ruben Tejada added another with a hit that scored Torres, giving the Mets a 3-1 lead. Daniel Murphy drove in Tejada to make it 4-1 before David Wright struck out to end the inning.
Despite the early exit, Marcum, who missed several weeks with a sore elbow and hasn't recorded a victory since June 8, felt good after his outing.
"I thought I threw the ball good today," Marcum said. "(My) stuff was coming out good. The two hits I gave up were really good pitches. Today's probably the best I felt since prior to the injury. The ball was coming out really well today. The changeup was back to the way I used to throw it."
Like his Brewers counterpart, Mejia ran into trouble in the fourth, allowing back-to-back singles to Nyjer Morgan and Jean Segura to open the inning. Logan Schaefer pinch-hit for Marcum and ripped a two-run triple to right, cutting the New York lead to one.
Norichika Aoki walked, putting runners at the corners with nobody out and bringing Mejia's day to an early end. Jeremy Hefner didn't fare too much better, throwing a wild pitch on a 1-1 count to Weeks that allowed Schaefer to score and tie the game at 4-4.
"That happens sometimes," Mejia said. "That's what I have to learn. I felt pretty good (in the bullpen, before the game). I tried to throw strikes but I threw balls. Today (was) not my day, but when I go out there I tried to do the best I can."
NOTES: The Brewers honored their minor-league players of the year before the game. OF Hunter Morris hit .303 with 28 home runs and 113 RBI for Class AA Huntsville to earn Player of the Year honors while right-hander Hiram Burgos was named pitcher of the year after going 10-4 with a 1.95 ERA in 28 starts with Class A Brevard County, Huntsville and Class AAA Nashville. ... Mets reliever Jon Rauch came into the game with a 1.14 ERA in his previous 33 inning. ... The Mets are hitting .201 with runners in scoring position since the All-Star break. ... Milwaukee first baseman Corey Hart was not in the starting lineup for the fifth straight game due to a foot injury.
