Young Gives Up 3 HRs, Mets Lose To Brewers 3-0
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chris Young's start was somewhat encouraging for the Mets. Despite the three home runs.
Ryan Braun hit two home runs and rookie pitcher Wily Peralta gave up two singles in eight innings, as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the New York Mets 3-0. The reigning most valuable player now has a career-high and league-leading 40 homers, and 201 in his career. Milwaukee won for the 20th time in its last 26 games to remain 2½ games out of the second wild-card spot.
Young (4-8) threw 6 2-3 innings and allowed three runs and eight hits, as the Mets lost for the eighth time in nine games.
The flyball pitcher who rejoined the Mets in June following surgery on his right shoulder allowed his runs all on solo homers.
"He's a fly ball pitcher. If you get enough of the ball here, it's going to get out," New York manager Terry Collins said. "But he pitched well. He kept us in the game. Two hits isn't going to get us very far."
Young is 2-2 in eight starts since a winless July. He has struck out 67 and walked 33 this season since coming back June 5.
"From the time I had the surgery, I've worked hard to be here," Young said. "I didn't come back thinking I wouldn't make starts. I've taken care of myself. I feel like I continue to get stronger.
"It hasn't been an easy road. There's been a lot of challenges. I've had some bad luck and hopefully that's behind me. I had surgery that a lot of people thought I'd never come back from. I've pitched pretty well."
Peralta (2-0), struck out five and walked one in his third start, and got his first major league hit when he doubled in the seventh.
John Axford pitched the ninth for his 11th straight save and 29th overall.
Braun is the sixth Brewers player to reach 200 homers and seventh to reach 40 in a season. His homer to lead off the sixth was his 103rd run batted in of the year and gave Milwaukee a 3-0 lead.
"Individual accomplishments are always far more enjoyable when they come in the context of a team win, a meaningful win," Braun said. "We're in a position where every obviously every game is of the utmost importance. It's certainly easier to enjoy it when it comes on a day like this."
In the fourth, Braun also led off with a deep home run to right-center. Ramirez, the featured bobblehead giveaway at Miller Park, followed by smashing another long blast to left-center for a 2-0 lead.
"He's the best player I've ever played with," Ramirez said. "It's not just because of the homers. He does everything. He'll steal a base when he needs to, plays good defense and stays healthy."
That was more than enough Peralta, who led Milwaukee to its 19th victory in its last 22 home games. He stranded Josh Thole at second by getting Ruben Tejada to fly out in the third. In the sixth, Andres Torres led off with a single and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Young. Tejada fouled out and Daniel Murphy grounded out, however.
"I'm pretty excited about the way I've been pitching," Peralta said.
NOTES: Milwaukee broke its single-season strikeout record when Peralta struck out Lucas Duda in the second. The Brewers now have 1,262 strikeouts, which leads the NL. ... Braun had 33 homers last year. . Young is 2-7 in his last 13 starts. . Milwaukee has at least one extra-base hit in its last 85 games. ... On Monday, New York begins a 10-day homestand, its second-longest of the year. . Milwaukee first baseman Corey Hart has not played since he sprained his left ankle last Sunday.
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