MILWAUKEE — Garrett Mitchell hit an RBI double and the Milwaukee Brewers withstood Freddy Peralta’s early exit to beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 and complete a doubleheader sweep Thursday night.

In the opening game, Corbin Burnes struck out 14 and allowed three hits in eight shutout innings in a 2-1 victory.

Peralta left the second game due to fatigue in his right shoulder after walking Tommy La Stella to lead off the third inning. The Brewers led 3-0 at the time.

The Brewers are at home for 20 of their last 26 games, a stretch that started with this double header. They’re hoping that schedule helps them go on a late surge as they attempt to chase down the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres for the NL’s final wild-card spots.

“Having all these home games at the end is definitely going to help us with this playoff push, but it takes some good baseball for us to get in there,” Burnes said.

Burnes entered this doubleheader having allowed 17 earned runs in 21 innings over his last four starts. But he dominated the Giants and showcased the form that enabled him to win the NL Cy Young Award last season.

He struck out 10 or more batters for the ninth time this season to tie the Brewers’ single-season record set by Ben Sheets in 2004. Burnes (10-6) also holds the franchise record for double-digit strikeout games with 21.

The 14 strikeouts were one off Burnes’ career high. He had 15 in a 10-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 11, 2021.

“Nothing new,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “That’s Corbin Burnes. That was as good as we’ve seen him. His stuff was carrying through the zone. He was hitting the top of the zone. His cutter was working well. The ball was moving all over the place. It’s tough to name five better starters in baseball.”

Burnes needed to be at his best to outduel San Francisco’s Jakob Junis (4-5), who struck out four and allowed three hits, two runs and two walks in six innings. Junis entered in the second inning, relieving opener Scott Alexander.

The Giants opened the scoring in the third inning as LaMonte Ward hit a two-out single and came home on Mike Yastrzemski’s double. Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich and Hunter Renfroe hit consecutive RBI doubles in the fourth.

Milwaukee took the lead for good in the second game by scoring three runs in the first inning off Alex Young (0-1). Only one of the runs was earned.

Joc Pederson homered for the Giants in the second game.

Milwaukee’s Peter Strzelecki (2-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief to get the win in the second game.

Devin Williams got his 11th save in 12 opportunities in the first game. Taylor Rogers finished the second game for his 31st save in 39 opportunities.

The two teams combined for just 16 hits in the double header. The Brewers had nine and the Giants had seven.

SIBLING RIVALRIES

This doubleheader had two sets of brothers facing off.

Taylor Rogers and Giants reliever Tyler Rogers are identical twins. San Francisco’s Scott Alexander is the older brother of Brewers right-hander Jason Alexander.

Jason Alexander is the Brewers’ scheduled starter Friday, so he was unlikely to pitch in Thursday’s doubleheader.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last time two sets of brothers played against each other in the same game was Aug. 6, 1977, when St. Louis’ Hector Cruz and Bob Forsch and Houston’s Jose Cruz and Ken Forsch all played in a game the Cardinals won 3-1. Elias’ records only accounted for instances in which all four siblings saw action in the game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers IF Luis Urías was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Sean Hjelle in the sixth inning of the second game. Urías remained in the game after a brief delay.

RHP Justin Topa was designated as the Brewers’ 29th man for the doubleheader. Topa hadn’t pitched in the majors since Sept. 3, 2021, as he recovered from a third elbow surgery. … The Brewers also reinstated INF Mike Brosseau (right oblique) from the injured list and optioned OF Esteury Ruiz to Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

Giants: Stay on the road to begin a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. Scheduled starters Friday are LHP Carlos Rodón (12-7, 2.92 ERA) for the Giants and LHP Drew Smyly (5-8, 3.84) for the Cubs.

Brewers: Stay home to start a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. Jason Alexander (2-2, 5.03) starts for the Brewers on Friday with LHP Nick Lodolo (3-5, 3.95) pitching for the Reds.

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WASHINGTON (AP) – Yes, Pablo Sandoval is 34 and in his 14th year in the majors, a two-time All-Star and MVP of the World Series. He still had to prove himself in spring training to secure a squad spot with the Atlanta Braves and a one-year contract worth $ 1 million.

He sure pays dividends quickly.

The man lovingly known as Kung Fu Panda hit his second pinch-hit homer in a week on Wednesday and shot a two-run shot into the deepest part of the ballpark in front of a Washington reliever, who was scoreless after Stephen Strasburg’s six Innings took over and the Braves raised to a 2-0 win over the Nationals for a double-header sweep.

“I don’t want to lie,” said Sandoval, who hit three homers in one game for the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 Fall Classics. “It’s one of those moments when you get goose bumps.”

Atlanta started the day 0-4 but headed in the right direction during the opening game when Ronald Acuña Jr. led with a doubles and a pair singles, helping the Braves to a 7-6 win.

Sandoval signed a minor league deal with the Braves in January and then earned a job, which sure seems like a wise move by the club.

“No situation is getting too big,” said manager Brian Snitker. “Not only in this role, but also in the clubhouse. It’s great to have this guy on your team. “

Sandoval came to Homer from the bank on the opening day and did the same on Wednesday. He hit a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) with a 3-2 count and sent it more than 400 feet after Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning.

“I missed my seat,” said Rainey, “and he didn’t miss his swing.”

The right-hander hadn’t hit a racket since the show final in Florida nine days earlier. A coronavirus outbreak that hit the Nationals kept them from training or playing for almost a week.

Luke Jackson (1-0) won game 2 by setting up a pair of walks in game six.

Sean Newcomb got three strikeouts for the save.

“That’s closer stuff, right there,” said Snitker.

Strasburg had not played a regular game since its closure last August and a carpal tunnel operation on his right wrist.

Strasburg hit 95 mph on his fastball, hitting eight and going two, while beating his overall performance for the inning for 2020, which was only five.

The World Series MVP 2019 only appeared twice last year. The 32-year-old right-hander’s preparation this spring was slowed by an issue with his left calf, but he showed no signs of being far from his best on Wednesday, withdrawing his last 10 thugs.

“That was great to see,” said manager Dave Martinez. “Man, he looked great.”

The only hit Strasbourg allowed was a single for the game’s second batsman, Ozzie Albies. The only real trouble came on the third when Strasbourg was taking Acuña and Albies for a walk and putting Freddie Freeman on the plate. But Strasbourg pulled the incumbent NL MVP back to the center in one fell swoop.

“My execution wasn’t very good for most of the spring training,” said Strasbourg. “I thought my execution was much better today and it is a step in the right direction.”

Strasbourg, who doubled in his first at-bat, was raised in the sixth after 85 pitches for a pinch hitter.

Huascar Ynoa went five scoreless innings for Atlanta, allowing two hits.

In Game 1, the Braves made five runs in the second inning of Erick Fedde (0-1) and then held out with a save from Will Smith the day after he gave Juan Soto a walk-off hit.

Smith, Atlanta’s fifth pitcher, didn’t have an easy time of it, however.

In an attempt to defend a 7-5 lead on Wednesday, the first batter he faced was Soto. This time Soto was walking, and Starlin Castro drove him in with a doppelganger. Then, with two men, Smith got Andrew Stevenson to ground himself in a double game.

“It’s been an excruciating week,” said Snitker after Atlanta avoided its first 0-5 start since 2016. “A good day to end the road trip.”

STRASBURG’S SESSION

Strasburg said he managed to get a throwing session with a bullpen catcher while the Nationals were idle by crawling through some bushes and hopping over a fence to get into a Little League field in Virginia.

“I didn’t want to do that again,” he said.

HUMDRUM

Although there were 4,927 viewers in attendance – unlike last season when all fans were banned – there were still fake crowd noises that provided an odd and annoying hum from a soundtrack.

TRAINER ROOM

Braves: RHP Mike Soroka, who has been on hiatus since August after an Achilles tendon rupture, is being suspended for two weeks due to an inflammation in his right shoulder. He threw an inning during a simulated game on Tuesday and has no structural damage, Snitker said. … Game 1 Pitcher Max Fried was hit by a batted ball, but neither he nor Snitker sounded too concerned about the left leg. “Nothing serious,” said the mug.

Nationals: Nine players missing due to their COVID-19 outbreak – four who tested positive, five who were quarantined for possible exposure. Those who are in quarantine could potentially rejoin the club on its upcoming six-game trip, Martinez said.

NEXT

Braves: The start at home is on Friday against the Phillies, with Charlie Morton playing for Atlanta against Zack Wheeler.

Nationals: Scheduled flight to California Wednesday night; They’re opening a three-game set with the Dodgers on Friday. “It’s been a long week,” said Martinez. “It’s been a long week for all of us.”

___

More AP-MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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WASHINGTON (AP) – Yes, Pablo Sandoval is 34 and in his 14th year in the majors, a two-time All-Star and MVP of the World Series. He still had to prove himself in spring training to secure a squad spot with the Atlanta Braves and a one-year contract worth $ 1 million.

He sure pays dividends quickly.

The man lovingly known as Kung Fu Panda hit his second pinch-hit homer in a week on Wednesday and shot a two-run shot into the deepest part of the ballpark in front of a Washington reliever, who was scoreless after Stephen Strasburg’s six Innings took over and the Braves raised to a 2-0 win over the Nationals for a double-header sweep.

“I don’t want to lie,” said Sandoval, who hit three homers in one game for the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 Fall Classics. “It’s one of those moments when you get goose bumps.”

Atlanta started the day 0-4 but headed in the right direction during the opening game when Ronald Acuña Jr. led with a doubles and a pair singles, helping the Braves to a 7-6 win.

Sandoval signed a minor league deal with the Braves in January and then earned a job, which sure seems like a wise move by the club.

“No situation is getting too big,” said manager Brian Snitker. “Not only in this role, but also in the clubhouse. It’s great to have this guy on your team. “

Sandoval came to Homer from the bank on the opening day and did the same on Wednesday. He hit a 96 mph fastball from Tanner Rainey (0-1) with a 3-2 count and sent it more than 400 feet after Dansby Swanson’s two-out single in the seventh and final inning.

“I missed my seat,” said Rainey, “and he didn’t miss his swing.”

The right-hander hadn’t hit a racket since the show final in Florida nine days earlier. A coronavirus outbreak that hit the Nationals kept them from training or playing for almost a week.

Luke Jackson (1-0) won game 2 by setting up a pair of walks in game six.

Sean Newcomb got three strikeouts for the save.

“That’s closer stuff, right there,” said Snitker.

Strasburg had not played a regular game since its closure last August and a carpal tunnel operation on his right wrist.

Strasburg hit 95 mph on his fastball, hitting eight and going two, while beating his overall performance for the inning for 2020, which was only five.

The World Series MVP 2019 only appeared twice last year. The 32-year-old right-hander’s preparation this spring was slowed by an issue with his left calf, but he showed no signs of being far from his best on Wednesday, withdrawing his last 10 thugs.

“That was great to see,” said manager Dave Martinez. “Man, he looked great.”

The only hit Strasbourg allowed was a single for the game’s second batsman, Ozzie Albies. The only real trouble came on the third when Strasbourg was taking Acuña and Albies for a walk and putting Freddie Freeman on the plate. But Strasbourg pulled the incumbent NL MVP back to the center in one fell swoop.

“My execution wasn’t very good for most of the spring training,” said Strasbourg. “I thought my execution was much better today and it is a step in the right direction.”

Strasbourg, who doubled in his first at-bat, was raised in the sixth after 85 pitches for a pinch hitter.

Huascar Ynoa went five scoreless innings for Atlanta, allowing two hits.

In Game 1, the Braves made five runs in the second inning of Erick Fedde (0-1) and then held out with a save from Will Smith the day after he gave Juan Soto a walk-off hit.

Smith, Atlanta’s fifth pitcher, didn’t have an easy time of it, however.

In an attempt to defend a 7-5 lead on Wednesday, the first batter he faced was Soto. This time Soto was walking, and Starlin Castro drove him in with a doppelganger. Then, with two men, Smith got Andrew Stevenson to ground himself in a double game.

“It’s been an excruciating week,” said Snitker after Atlanta avoided its first 0-5 start since 2016. “A good day to end the road trip.”

STRASBURG’S SESSION

Strasburg said he managed to get a throwing session with a bullpen catcher while the Nationals were idle by crawling through some bushes and hopping over a fence to get into a Little League field in Virginia.

“I didn’t want to do that again,” he said.

HUMDRUM

Although there were 4,927 viewers in attendance – unlike last season when all fans were banned – there were still fake crowd noises that provided an odd and annoying hum from a soundtrack.

TRAINER ROOM

Braves: RHP Mike Soroka, who has been on hiatus since August after an Achilles tendon rupture, is being suspended for two weeks due to an inflammation in his right shoulder. He threw an inning during a simulated game on Tuesday and has no structural damage, Snitker said. … Game 1 Pitcher Max Fried was hit by a batted ball, but neither he nor Snitker sounded too concerned about the left leg. “Nothing serious,” said the mug.

Nationals: Nine players missing due to their COVID-19 outbreak – four who tested positive, five who were quarantined for possible exposure. Those who are in quarantine could potentially rejoin the club on its upcoming six-game trip, Martinez said.

NEXT

Braves: The start at home is on Friday against the Phillies, with Charlie Morton playing for Atlanta against Zack Wheeler.

Nationals: Scheduled flight to California Wednesday night; They’re opening a three-game set with the Dodgers on Friday. “It’s been a long week,” said Martinez. “It’s been a long week for all of us.”

___

More AP-MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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