Willy Adames hit a three-run homer, and Aaron Civale pitched six scoreless innings against his old team, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. This victory ended the Guardians’ five-game winning streak.
José Ramírez hit a two-run homer, and David Fry added a solo homer for Cleveland.
The Brewers won the first game of this series between division leaders after splitting four games with the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week.
“You want to face those teams to see how good you are, if you’re ready to go to October and compete against the best of the best,” Adames said. “We’ve shown this week we can make it happen.”
Civale (4-8) started his major league career with Cleveland in 2019 and stayed with the Guardians until they traded him to Tampa Bay on July 31, 2023. The Brewers got him from Tampa Bay on July 3 in exchange for minor-league infielder Gregory Barrios.
This was the second time Civale faced the Guardians since leaving Cleveland. He gave up two runs over five innings on August 11 of last season as the Rays beat the Guardians 9-8.
“I gave some head nods,” Civale said. “I’ll catch up with them tomorrow.”
Civale struck out four, allowed only four hits, and walked one batter. After starting his time with Milwaukee with an 0-2 record and a 5.40 ERA in his first five games, he’s now 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in his last two starts.
Adames gave Civale an early 3-0 lead with his two-out homer in the first inning.
His 431-foot drive off an 0-1 fastball from Gavin Williams landed in a section beyond the right-center field wall where a 2024 Toyota Tacoma was placed for a promotion. If a ball hits the Tacoma directly, a fan would win the truck.
Sadly for Brewers fans, Adames’ hit landed on the ground near the Tacoma before bouncing and hitting the bottom of the truck.
“I want to see somebody getting that truck,” Adames said. “I feel like it’s been there forever. I’ve never seen anybody win it.”
Adames has hit a franchise-record 10 three-run homers this season, the most of anyone in the majors.
