MILWAUKEE — For a team that leads the major leagues in stolen bases, the Milwaukee Brewers looked pretty powerful at the plate Monday night.
"I think we were kind of due for a night like that," manager Craig Counsell said.
Martin Maldonado hit a three-run homer and Milwaukee went deep four times, spoiling the major league debut of Arizona pitching prospect Braden Shipley in a 7-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
"Maldy’s home run was the play of the game, for sure. That’s the spot where we got some breathing room," Counsell said. "It was a back-breaker for them."
Maldonado’s drive chased Shipley. The backup catcher said he saw multiple curveballs in his first two at-bats and was sitting on a first-pitch curve in the sixth, which he hammered over the left-field fence.
"Hitting’s about timing," Maldonado said.
Scooter Gennett, Jonathan Villar and pinch-hitter Andy Wilkins also connected for the Brewers in the opener of a four-game series. Chase Anderson went five innings to beat his former team for his first win since June 8.
Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the off-season, Anderson (5-10) hadn’t made it through five innings in any of his previous five starts. This time, he gave up two runs and seven hits.
"I had more conviction behind the pitches. I think my focus was where it needed to be," Anderson said.
Gennett hit a 437-foot homer to straightaway centre field off Shipley (0-1) with one out in the first to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead. The right-hander was selected 15th overall by Arizona in the 2013 amateur draft.
Shipley helped his cause when he led off the third with a stand-up double, narrowly missing a home run. He later scored on a single by Jean Segura.
Villar put the Brewers back in front with a home run leading off the third. The Diamondbacks pulled even in the fourth on a run-scoring double by Yasmany Tomas.
In the fifth, Ryan Braun extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a run-scoring single, putting Milwaukee ahead 3-2.
Wilkins followed Maldonado’s three-run shot in the sixth with his first career home run — he had been 0 for 9 since getting called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs this month.
MAKE ROOM
The Diamondbacks selected the contract of Shipley, rated their top prospect, from Triple-A Reno. RHP Silvino Bracho was optioned to Reno.
MOMENT TO REMEMBER
Wilkins’ wife and young son were in the stands to share in the celebration of his first round-tripper. "As soon as I hit it, I looked up and saw (my wife), so it was awesome," said Wilkins, who has been used almost exclusively as a pinch-hitter. "This is an incredible moment and something that my wife and son, we will enjoy it forever."
RETURN TO MILWAUKEE
Jean Segura and Rickie Weeks, once key players for the Brewers, returned to Miller Park as teammates on the Diamondbacks. "We knew, when we traded for Jean, the talent that he had," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "He’s just been a godsend for us. Rickie is a veteran with a dangerous bat. He’s been a stabilizer in the clubhouse."
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke, on the disabled list since June 29 with a left oblique strain, is likely to pitch a simulated game with the Diamondbacks or a minor league rehab game on Friday, Hale said.
Brewers: INF Will Middlebrooks (lower right leg strain) was placed on the 15-day DL. "I think we’re too early to know exactly how long he’ll be out. It’s a pretty significant strain," Counsell said. OF Keon Broxton was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs. … OF Domingo Santana (right elbow) has been shut down from a rehabilitation assignment at Class A Wisconsin. "It’s a big setback. I don’t have a timetable," Counsell said. "We’ll have to get another doctor’s opinion and see if that sheds any light on anything."
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (4-9, 5.23 ERA) is 2-2 with a 1.80 ERA in his career against Milwaukee.
Brewers: Matt Garza (1-4, 5.94) has lost his last four starts while posting an 8.41 ERA. Milwaukee is 1-6 in his outings. Garza is 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) against the Diamondbacks.
