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Counsell, Gomez ejected as Brewers comeback attempt falls short
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Milwaukee Brewers thought they had a legitimate chance to come back in the ninth inning before everything backfired.
Outfielder Carlos Gomez was ejected in the final inning of a 4-2 loss to San Francisco on Monday night after tossing his helmet following a replay reversal of what had been a stolen base. He later threw a batting glove, then manager Craig Counsell came out to argue and also was tossed -- for the first time in his career as a player or manager.
"That would make a good news story," he said.
Brandon Crawford hit a two-run homer in the fourth off Kyle Lohse, and Chris Heston won his fifth consecutive decision as the Giants won their sixth straight.
Gomez was still frustrated well after the game, while noting he didn't intend any disrespect.
"I never looked at the umpires," he said. "I never argue pitches or any calls. I was just frustrated, and they throw you out."
Heston (11-5) allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings as the defending World Series champions moved a season-high 11 games over .500 with their seventh home victory in a row and 12th in 13 overall.
Pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco had an RBI double in the seventh and Brandon Belt added a sacrifice fly to back Heston, who won his third straight start. He induced inning-ending double plays in the first, third and fifth to take a share of the major league lead (22) with Minnesota's Kyle Gibson and Mike Pelfrey.
Crawford, the shortstop, said Heston's quick tempo "keeps us on our toes."
"We had guys on base and they were able to get the double plays," Counsell said. "We couldn't get that next hit."
Milwaukee slugger Ryan Braun was a late scratch because of lower back tightness, forcing Counsell to shuffle his lineup shortly before game time.
Lohse (5-12) hung in there through 6 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs and five hits, walked three and didn't have a strikeout while losing his second straight start and dropping to 0-3 over his past four.
Crawford hit his team-leading 15th homer on a 3-0 pitch an estimated 424 feet to right-center.
"I felt like, except for that one inning, I was pretty controlled," Lohse said. "The home run hurt a lot. I was not trying to throw him anything good. He's a good hitter. I tried to throw a sinker and it ran into him."
Matt Duffy had three more hits for the Giants, a day after hitting a two-run homer and driving in three runs. Sergio Romo pitched the ninth for his second save as manager Bruce Bochy stayed away from closer Santiago Casilla as planned after a long Sunday outing for his career-high 26th save.
San Francisco is 9-1 since the All-Star break and pulled within a half-game of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. It's the closest the Giants have been since June 29.
Giants left fielder Nori Aoki returned from a broken right leg to face his former team, batting eighth as Bochy stuck with a lineup that has been working so well with Angel Pagan leading off.
Aoki received a warm ovation during pregame introductions after mingling with former teammates, who offered him plenty of hugs and handshakes. He went 0 for 3.
Jonathan Lucroy hit an RBI double for the Brewers, who dropped their third straight and fifth in six games.
San Francisco is 12-1 in a stretch of 21 straight games against losing teams.
ECLECTIC EVENING
AT&T Park hosted both Jewish Heritage Night and a peanut allergy friendly game day, which the Giants do a couple of times each season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: 1B Adam Lind, whose name has surfaced in trade talks, was held out of the lineup for one more day because of lower back tightness that caused him to leave Saturday's game at Arizona. Counsell said Lind was available off the bench and would likely play Tuesday night.
Giants: Backup catcher Andrew Susac, eligible to come off the disabled list Aug. 3 from a right thumb sprain, will be re-evaluated Wednesday. If he is cleared, he will have his splint removed so he can begin swinging a bat again.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Wily Peralta (1-5) will come off the disabled list Tuesday night to make his first start since May 22. He has been sidelined with a strained left oblique.
Giants: RHP Matt Cain (2-1) makes his fifth start of the year since coming off the DL on July 2. He is 3-7 against the Brewers and has lost his last two in the matchup.
