PHILADELPHIA — The Milwaukee Brewers continued to have their way at Citizens Bank Park, cruising past the Philadelphia Phillies 9-5 on Wednesday night.
The Brewers (32-48) have won the first three games of a four-game series in Philadelphia en route to a season-best four-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, the Phillies (27-53) continue to sink and are a season-worst 26 games below .500.
From the get-go, Milwaukee battered Philadelphia starter Aaron Harang (4-11) and never let up, scoring eight runs on 14 hits off the right-hander as he exited before he could record an out in the Brewers’ two-run sixth.
With the defeat, Harang became the first Phillies pitcher to lose eight consecutive starts since Jim Nash in 1972. After posting a 1.93 ERA in his first 10 starts, the 37-year-old is 0-7 with a 7.53 ERA in the last seven.
Just two nights after tying their season high in hits, the Brewers surpassed that mark with 17 and have now scored 20 runs in the last three games.
Milwaukee’s top of the order set the tone as left fielder Gerardo Parra went 3-for-4 and reached base four times to score a pair of runs, while second baseman Scooter Gennett went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs. The Brewers’ big bats took care of the rest with first baseman Adam Lind, right fielder Ryan Braun and third baseman Aramis Ramirez all driving in two runs apiece.
Milwaukee right-hander Kyle Lohse (5-9) did enough with a healthy lead, throwing 6 1/3 innings of four-run ball. He minimized damage, as well, working around nine hits and two walks, while going 3-for-4 at the plate.
Four different Phillies knocked in a run, including third baseman Maikel Franco, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and center fielder Odubel Herrera, who went 2-for-4.
But the offense was too late after Milwaukee took leads of 6-0 and 9-2.
It didn’t take long for the Brewers to pounce on Harang.
With two outs and a runner aboard in the top of the first inning, Harang threw a 1-1 changeup down the middle to first baseman Adam Lind, who crushed it for a two-run homer to put Milwaukee ahead 2-0.
Harang has allowed 10 home runs in his last seven starts after surrendering just two in his first 10.
The Brewers added to their lead with two runs in the top of the third. Ramirez lined a double to left field, scoring Lind and center fielder Carlos Gomez after they reached on back-to-back singles.
In the fourth, right fielder Ryan Braun pushed two more runs across with a check-swing double down the line that went off first baseman Ryan Howard’s glove and made it 6-0.
Braun entered the game hitting .438 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs in 24 career games at Citizens Bank Park.
Harang had Philadelphia’s first hit with a single in the bottom of the third.
The Phillies got to Lohse with two-out RBI singles in the fourth by center fielder Odubel Herrera and shortstop Freddy Galvis, cutting the deficit to 6-2.
NOTES: Brewers SS Hernan Perez made his first start at shortstop for Milwaukee as SS Jean Segura received the day off. “I was trying to pick a day on the road trip for Jean to have a day off,” manager Craig Counsell said. “And it’s also an (opportunity) to see Hernan. He’s swinging the bat so well, you want to keep him in the lineup.” Perez, who has started at third base and second base for the Brewers, entered the game hitting .486 since June 15. … Phillies OF Odubel Herrera started in center field, pushing OF Ben Revere to right field while OF Domonic Brown came off the bench. It was Herrera’s fifth start since June 13. … Brewers C Jonathan Lucroy was rested in favor of C Martin Maldonado. Lucroy had started eight games over the last eight days. … Phillies RHP Chad Billingsley (right shoulder strain) will be activated from the 15-day disabled list and start Thursday against the Brewers. Billingsley made three starts (0-2, 6.75 ERA) before returning to the DL, where he began the season.
