Blue Jays sweep Brewers

Toronto Blue Jays' Ryan Goins is congratulated after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Toronto Blue Jays (21-26) sweep the Milwaukee Brewers (25-21) as they win 8-4 in game two of their mini series at Miller Park.

In the third inning, CF Keon Braxton put the Brewers ahead with his fifth home run of the season but Toronto’s response came straight away.

CF Kevin Pillar and RF Jose Bautista each hit a solo home run in the fourth to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead. It was Pillar’s seventh long ball of the year and Bautista’s eighth.

Toronto opened the fifth inning with a single from LF Chris Coghlan and a double by SS Ryan Goins. C Luke Maille followed with a sacrifice flyball and the Blue Jays were up 3-1.

2B Devon Travis added another run for Toronto with a leadoff home run in the sixth. It was his third homer of the season and second in his last three games.

Milwaukee’s SP Matt Garza went on to give up back-to-back singles to Jose Bautista and 1B Justin Smoak and forced teammate Keon Broxton to make a spectacular catch on a line drive for the first out. Manager Craig Counsell saw enough and relieved Matt Garza with RP Oliver Drake after 5.1 innings.

Matt Garza (2-1) had an outstanding start to the game but was hit hard after he began to miss the location again and again. He surrendered 7 hits and 6 earned runs while fanning 5. He now has a 3.60 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP this year.

Oliver Drake loaded the bases with a walk to Chris Coghlan and gave up a four-run homer to Ryan Goins to give the Blue Jays an 8-1 lead. It was Ryan Goins’ fourth home run of the season and first grand slam of his career.

The Brewers rallied back within four runs in in the bottom of the inning. 2B Jonathan Villar drew a leadoff walk and LF Hernan Perez double with one out. One out later, RF Domingo Santana homered to drive in three runs for Milwaukee. It was his sixth long ball of the year.

Toronto’s SP Marcus Stroman (5-2), who was dominant for much of the game, was then relieved after 106 pitches. In 5.2 innings of work he allowed 4 hits, 4 walks and 4 earned runs while striking out 5. He now has a 3.30 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP on the season.

Ryan Goins went 2-for-4 with 1 run, 1 HR and 4 RBI. He is batting .212 and has 10 runs, 4 HR and 19 RBI this year.

The Blue Jays enjoy a rest day before they host a three-game series against the Texas Rangers (24-22) from Friday to Sunday.

The Brewers continue their homestand with a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (28-19) from Thursday through Sunday.