Willy Adames hit two home runs and drove in four runs, while Colin Rea pitched six scoreless innings to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 7-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, concluding a contentious three-game series.
Following a brawl on Tuesday night, Milwaukee reliever Abner Uribe received a six-game suspension, and starter Freddy Peralta was suspended for five games by Major League Baseball. Rays outfielder Jose Siri was suspended for three games, and Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy for two. Additionally, all four were fined.
Starting his suspension on Wednesday, Murphy handed over managerial duties to associate manager Rickie Weeks. Siri’s suspension was reduced to two games as part of an agreement, and he served the first game on Wednesday. Uribe and Peralta can continue playing until their appeals are resolved.
Facing his former team, Adames hit a solo home run in the third inning off Zach Eflin (1-4) and a three-run homer in the seventh inning against Erasmo Ramírez, marking his fifth two-homer game in the big leagues.
“I just focus on winning every day, regardless of the opponent,” Adames said. “Seeing familiar faces makes it more enjoyable, though.”
Rea (3-0) pitched for six innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and striking out six in a 99-pitch performance—his highest since July 25, 2016, when he played for San Diego against Toronto.
“I felt like I could have continued,” Rea commented. “I had some opportunities to end the innings earlier. We took the lead, but I wasted some pitches.”
Bryan Hudson, Uribe, and Thyago Vieira combined for a five-hitter as the Brewers won two out of three games against the Rays. Umpires asked Vieira to change his glove due to an issue with its color combination.
“He used it last night. I think what happened is things got hectic for them last night when he entered the game,” Weeks explained. “They couldn’t address it right then and there.”
William Contreras hit a two-run double in the third inning off Elfin, who gave up three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Eflin hasn’t won a game in his last five starts.
Tampa Bay failed to score with runners in scoring position, going 0 for 8, and left nine runners on base. “We’re just not getting it done. Getting that crucial hit is really difficult right now,” manager Kevin Cash noted.
