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DENVER (AP) — Jean Segura has raced all the way home from first base plenty of times in his career. Just never on a wild pitch.
Segura and the Milwaukee Brewers took advantage of the faulty fielding by the Colorado Rockies in a 9-4 win on Saturday.
Most glaring was in the third inning, when the Brewers broke open the game with a bizarre play on a wild pitch. They had the bases loaded, and pitcher Wily Peralta was at the plate, when Christian Friedrich sent a fastball past catcher Mike McKenry, which started quite a chain of events.
Although McKenry quickly tracked the ball down on the right side of the plate, he tossed it out of Friedrich's reach as the pitcher covered home. Aramis Ramirez scored, along with Mark Reynolds from second as the ball rolled toward the Milwaukee dugout.
Segura was on first when the play started, but when Friedrich walked toward the field with his head down after picking up the ball — and a shaken-up McKenry feeling woozy — Segura hustled home to score, making it an 8-2 game. McKenry was charged with a throwing error on the play.
"It was crazy. A crazy play," Segura said. "I've never seen that in my life, in my whole career. It was so funny. It was a good moment for us."
And a not-so-good moment for the Rockies, who committed a season-high four errors as they lost their fifth straight.
"It was just one of those bizarre plays," Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "It was an unfortunate play and it ended up hurting us."
Aramis Ramirez had three hits, including a solo homer, Peralta won his fourth straight start, and Carlos Gomez extended his hitting streak to 17 games to help the Brewers improve to 5-1 on their seven-game trip.
But Segura's baserunning had the Brewers buzzing in the clubhouse.
"First time in my career I've seen three runs score on a wild pitch," said Ramirez, who was replaced by a pinch hitter in the ninth inning because of a tight back. "He was just alert. You've got to be on your toes when (Segura) is on the bases."
Segura's bat ignited the Brewers on Friday night when he hit two homers. This time, it was not only his speed on the bases, but his glove. He made several nifty plays in the hole at shortstop.
"Just trying to do the best I can," Segura said.
Peralta (8-5) went 7 2-3 solid innings and allowed four runs, three earned. He gave up a two-run single to Justin Morneau in the first and then shut down the league's best offense until Corey Dickerson's two-run homer in the sixth.
Friedrich (0-1) lasted six innings and surrendered nine runs, four earned, in his season debut. He is the 11th starting pitcher the Rockies have used this season.
The 26-year-old lefty, who missed most of last season due to back inflammation, was 1-8 with a 7.89 ERA for Triple-A Colorado Springs before being recalled.
"We were sloppy early," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Didn't give Friedrich a lot of help early on. Some extra outs made it tough on him. Thought he did a nice job and could've got out of there with a much better line."
The Brewers have scored 22 runs in the first two games of the series. Milwaukee scored four in the second inning on Saturday and four more in the third, which was more than enough for Peralta. The righty only got stronger as the game went along, still touching 97 mph before being pulled with two on and two out in the eighth.
Rob Wooten struck out Mike McKenry to end the threat.
Ramirez had his second straight three-hit day. His solo homer in the fifth was his ninth of the season.
"Been coming here for a lot of years — it's a good place to hit," Ramirez said.
NOTES: The game started 23 minutes late because of weather. ... Gomez has reached base safely in 34 straight games, the fifth longest streak in franchise history. ... The Brewers lead the majors with 26 road wins. ... RHP Kyle Lohse (8-2) takes the mound for the Brewers in the series finale. LHP Tyler Matzek (1-1) goes for Colorado. ... Rockies 3B Josh Rutledge had two errors in the second, and second baseman DJ LeMahieu had another trying to turn a double play.
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