MILWAUKEE (AP) — William Contreras hit the only ball out of the infield during a two-run rally in the eighth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers snapped a six-game skid with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

Toronto wasted a brilliant performance from Dylan Cease, who struck out six and allowed two hits and three walks in six shutout innings.

Milwaukee capitalized on some good luck in the eighth to end its longest losing streak since 2023.

David Hamilton led off by beating out an infield single. Hamilton hit a ball less than halfway up the left side of the infield and pitcher Tyler Rogers (1-1) was unable to field it with his bare hand.

Sal Frelick followed by hitting a high bouncer that catcher Brandon Valenzuela mishandled after it fell right in front of home plate. The error by Valenzuela put runners on first and second.

Contreras then grounded a single into right that scored Hamilton and advanced Frelick to third. Frelick scored the go-ahead run when Brice Turang grounded to second on a chopper that bounced over the head of Rogers.

Abner Uribe retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his first save of the season. The Brewers turned to Uribe in the ninth after Trevor Megill blew a save opportunity by allowing three runs in the ninth inning of a 9-7, 10-inning loss to Toronto on Tuesday.

Milwaukee's Chad Patrick matched a career high by working 6 2/3 innings and allowed just one run along with three hits. He struck out two and walked two.

Toronto scored in the first inning. Daulton Varsho drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s base hit to right and came home on Jesús Sánchez's sacrifice fly.

The Blue Jays left two runners on in the seventh and eighth innings. Aaron Ashby (4-0) struck out Myles Straw to strand runners on first and second in the eighth.

Up next

Patrick Corbin (0-0. 9.00 ERA) pitches for Toronto and Brandon Sproat (0-1, 10.45) starts for Milwaukee in the finale of the three-game series Thursday.

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy is leaving open the possibility he could at least temporarily consider other closing options due to Trevor Megill’s early-season struggles.

Megill, an All-Star last season, was booed by the American Family Field crowd while allowing three runs in the ninth inning of a 9-7, 10-innng loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. The outing left Megill with a 14.40 earned run average.

“I’m definitely way better than that,” Megill said. “Pitches can be a lot better. Pitch execution can be a lot better. A lot of things can be better.”

Murphy said afterward he may consider using someone else in the ninth inning, but noted that he didn’t want to decide that issue immediately after such an emotional loss.

He also emphasized Megill shouldn’t be getting booed, particularly after the way the veteran right-hander performed last year. Megill came back from a late-season arm injury and earned the save in Milwaukee’s Game 5 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series.

“These aren’t machines out there,” Murphy said. “These are people. I thought that was in poor taste, but I’ve done things in poor taste, too.”

Megill has given up eight earned runs through five innings this season. Last year, he didn’t allow his eighth earned run until mid-June.

“Is he throwing the ball well? No,” Murphy said. “Is he giving up hard contact? Yes. Do they swing at it like they know it’s coming? Yes. But did the guy save 30 games for us last year. I think he did. My heart goes out to him right now. It bleeds for him. He’s feeling it.”

Megill entered Tuesday's game with a 4-3 lead, but he opened the ninth by walking Eloy Jiménez and allowing a ground-rule double to Davis Schneider. Both runners eventually scored. Kazuma Okamoto and Ernie Clement had RBI singles off Megill.

The bullpen’s inability to protect a lead caused Milwaukee to lose its sixth straight, which represents its longest skid since 2023. The Brewers wasted a gutsy performance from Jacob Misiorowski, who overcame an illness to work 5 1/3 innings while allowing two runs.

One reason Murphy could stick with Megill in the closer’s role is because the right-hander had handled that assignment so effectively before this year. Megill had a combined 51 saves from 2024-25. He posted a 2.49 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 47 innings last year.

The Brewers also don’t have many great alternatives.

Abner Uribe was one of the game’s top setup men last season, but he also is off to a slow start. He has allowed three runs over his last two outings and has a 5.68 ERA after finishing last season at 1.67.

Jared Koenig, who had 27 holds and a 2.86 ERA last season, is on the injured list with an elbow issue.

Murphy takes issue with the notation that the early-season struggles of these relievers is due to their heavy workload last year as the Brewers advanced to the NL Championship Series. Murphy noted that Megill, for instance, is throwing at a similar velocity as he did at this point last year.

Now, Murphy faces a hard decision as he decides whether to keep using Megill in that ninth-inning role.

“The way he’s throwing the ball now, he doesn’t deserve it,” Murphy said, “but he can earn it back.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB