MILWAUKEE — Freddy Peralta struck out 13 to match his career high and allowed just one hit over seven innings in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 12-1 blowout of the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
“What was fun for me was I knew that I had a lot of strikeouts today but I had no idea about how many,” Peralta said. “When I finished, Big Woo (teammate Brandon Woodruff) came in and he told me, ‘You can only strike out 13?’ I didn’t know that. I had no idea.”
Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer, scored three times and had four RBIs. Brice Turang and Tyrone Taylor also went deep. William Contreras went 3 for 5, scored twice and had three RBIs.
Peralta (8-8) gave up a homer to Ezequiel Tovar with one out in the first inning, but the Rockies wouldn't put a runner on base the rest of the night.
It was the third time in franchise history the Brewers allowed only one base runner in a single game. The other times were against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 26, 2019, and in the combined no-hitter by Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader at Cleveland on Sept. 11, 2021.
“Guys were frustrated, especially the younger fellows,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “You guys saw the look on their faces. They’re exasperated. This is baptism under fire for these guys against major league pitching. Peralta was on tonight. It was really good stuff.”
Peralta retired the last 20 batters he faced. Elvis Peguero worked a perfect eighth and Andrew Chafin retired the side in order in the ninth.
This marked the second time in his last three starts that Peralta has recorded 13 strikeouts. He also did it in a 3-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on July 26. Peralta allowed only one hit and didn’t walk a single batter in each of those games.
Peralta’s other 13-strikeout performance came in his major league debut on May 13, 2018. Peralta led the Brewers to a 7-3 Mother’s Day victory at Colorado that afternoon with his mother in the stands.
“I wished I could get another one to break my own record, but it was fun,” Peralta said. "And everyone knows that I love the strikeouts.”
Colorado’s Peter Lambert was just as effective as Peralta early on.
Lambert (2-3) was a strike away from exiting the fourth inning with a 1-0 lead and a no-hit bid intact until everything fell apart for him. The Brewers collected five straight two-out hits to pull ahead 5-1, knocking Lambert out of the game in the process.
Milwaukee grabbed a 2-1 edge with its first hit of the game, as Turang sent a 1-2 sweeper over the right-field wall. Turang’s homer also scored Frelick, who had drawn a leadoff walk.
“He just looked a little bit out of sync and couldn't really corral it,” Black said.
Brian Anderson followed with a triple off the center-field wall and scored on Taylor’s single up the middle. Christian Yelich delivered a bloop hit to shallow left field that put runners on third and second.
Contreras then greeted Jake Bird with a single up the middle that brought home Taylor and Yelich to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 5-1.
The Brewers added three runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth against Rockies reliever Connor Seabold.
“It’s all contagious,” Frelick said. “Once that ball got rolling, it didn’t stop.”
ADAMES' NIGHT OFF
Milwaukee's Willy Adames was out of the starting lineup for the first time since coming off the injured list June 7 as the Brewers hope a day off can help the slumping shortstop regain his form.
Adames has gone 2 for 20 over his last five games as his batting average has dipped to .201.
“I feel like this has been the worst time in my career,” Adames said before the game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: OF/DH Charlie Blackmon went through a full workout before Monday's game as he recovers from a fractured right hand that has kept him on the injured list since June 10. He will require a rehabilitation stint before getting activated.
Brewers: 1B Rowdy Tellez (finger) is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. Tellez is expected to remain with Nashville at least through the end of the week. ... DH Jesse Winker (back) could begin a rehabilitation assignment as early as this weekend.
TRANSACTIONS
Rockies: Promoted OF Cole Tucker and optioned IF Coco Montes to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Brewers: Sent OF Tyler Naquin to the Chicago White Sox for cash. Naquin had spent the entire season in the minors ... Reinstated LHP Bennett Sousa from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Nashville ... Transferred LHP Justin Wilson to the 60-day injured list.
UP NEXT
LHP Kyle Freeland (4-12, 4.88 ERA) pitches for the Rockies and LHP Wade Miley (8-2, 3.01) starts for the Brewers when this three-game series continues Tuesday night.
