Tomoyuki Sugano pitched effectively into the sixth inning to pace the visiting Colorado Rockies to a 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Sugano (10-4) scattered six hits, allowing a pair of solo homers in 5 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking one to improve to 6-0 over his last seven starts.
The Brewers threatened in the ninth when Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers opened with consecutive singles, but Jordan Romano retired the next three hitters for his eighth save in 10 opportunities.
Shane Drohan (5-4) gave up five runs on six hits in six-plus innings as the NL Central-leading Brewers lost for just the second time after the All-Star break. Drohan struck out six and walked two.
The Rockies took a 2-0 lead in the first when Kyle Karros dropped a one-out bloop double down the right field line and Cole Carrigg followed with an RBI double. Hunter Goodman then lined a run-scoring single through the left side.
Christian Yelich led off the bottom half with his seventh homer, sending a 1-0 pitch from Sugano 413 feet to center.
The Rockies added a run in the third when Jake McCarthy opened with a triple into the right field corner and Karros singled.
Colorado made it 4-1 in the fourth when Willi Castro singled to open, stole second, advanced on a groundout and scored on Mickey Moniak’s sacrifice fly.
Brice Turang brought Milwaukee within 4-2 in the sixth with his 15th homer, a 434-foot blast to center.
After Turang’s homer, William Contreras singled and Garrett Mitchell walked, chasing Saguno after 93 pitches. Victor Vodnik relieved and struck out pinch hitter Vaughn, but both runners advanced on a passed ball. Vodnik escaped by getting Bauers on an inning-ending bouncer to first.
The Rockies made it 5-2 in the seventh. Moniak walked to open, chasing Drohan after 92 pitches. Pinch hitter TJ Rumfield greeted reliever Grant Anderson with an RBI double.
