Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) – Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart hit home runs to back the pitching of Chris Narveson and power Milwaukee to a 6-2 victory over Texas in the opener of an interleague set at Miller Park.
Narveson (5-3) worked a career-high seven innings, allowing a pair of runs on six hits, while walking two and fanning four to help Milwaukee spoil the Rangers first-ever game at the new ballpark and win for a seventh time in its last 10 games on home soil.
Casey McGehee also hit a home run, as the Brewers matched a season-high with four long balls to win for the fourth time in the last five games.
Rich Harden (3-3) took the loss after surrendering six runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings. He fanned four and gave up all four long balls, as the Rangers’ three-game win streak came to an end.
“We couldn’t get the ball in to the right-handers,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “They got all their runs off the long ball tonight.”
Braun belted a two-out, two-run home run, his first since May 25, in the first inning to put the Brewers on the board.
Vladimir Guerrero clubbed a solo home run to left field in the second to trim the Brewers lead to 2-1, and the visitors tied the game on a two-out run- scoring double by Michael Young in the third.
The Brewers reclaimed the lead for good in the home fourth when McGehee led off the inning with his first long ball since May 19.
Rickie Weeks drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and scored when Hart smacked a home run the opposite way to right field that was followed by Fielder’s opposite-field clout to left.
Narveson retired the side in order in the fifth, worked around a leadoff double by Young in the sixth and got Julio Borbon to ground into an inning- ending double play in the seventh to finish off his performance. Kameron Loe followed with two shutout frames to preserve the win.
“He kept the ball down, spotted his fastball and his changeup was really working,” said Milwaukee manager Ken Macha about his starter’s outing. “The turnaround was the sixth when Young led off with a double and didn’t score.”