Colin Rea and two relievers combined for a two-hit shutout as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 on Sunday, marking their fifth straight win.
The Brewers, who lead the NL Central, improved to a season-high 20 games above .500 after a 7-3 record on their 10-game homestand. This included a four-game split with the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and a three-game sweep of the AL Central-leading Guardians.
Milwaukee’s five-game winning streak matches their longest of the season.
Rea (11-4) kept the Guardians hitless for the first 5 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old right-hander struck out five batters, allowed two hits, and did not issue any walks in his seven-inning performance.
“He’s just been an incredible anchor,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He really has. He gives you it every time out. What you see is what you get.
It’s who he is as a human, every day the same, every day doing everything he can to help out whoever’s around him, whatever the mission is. The consummate teammate. I can’t say enough about him.”
Rea praised Eric Haase, who was catching for just the 10th time this season, for calling the game well.
“I just think he did a good job of moving the ball around, predominantly with the four- and two-seam (fastball),” Rea said. “The slider wasn’t quite there today, so we kind of turned to the changeup when we needed to slow them down, so that was good too.”
Rea left the game after hitting Jhonkensy Noel with a pitch to start the eighth inning. Bryan Hudson came in from the bullpen and retired the next three batters.
With usual closer Devin Williams unavailable after pitching three of the last four days, 30-year-old left-hander Jared Koenig retired the side in order in the ninth inning to earn his first career save.
“I definitely had it in the back of my mind, but I was just trying to focus on getting the hitters and making my pitches,” Koenig said.
