OAKLAND, Calif. — Joey Estes allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings, and the Oakland Athletics scored four times in the fourth in a 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday to avoid a sweep.
Estes (6-6) held the Brewers, who had scored 20 runs over the first two games of the series, to only two hits while striking out five and walking one. Mason Miller recorded his 21st save of the season, entering the game with two outs in the eighth and holding a one-run lead.
The 22-year-old Estes said he was able to effectively locate his fastball and his sweeper was also working well.
''I feel like I was just able to change eye levels a little bit and mix up counts,'' Estes said.
Brewers starter Frankie Montas (6-9) sent down the A's in order through the first three innings, but Oakland broke through in the fourth for four runs when its first five batters reached base.
''Our offense this whole home stand, we've struggled to score runs,'' A's manager Mark Kotsay said. ''So today was a great day in that the pitching lined up for us.''
Down 2-0, Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker and JJ Bleday led off the inning with consecutive singles. Shea Langeliers walked with the bases loaded, Seth Brown tied the game with a single and then Daz Cameron and Zack Gelof hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to give the A's a 4-2 lead.
''We haven't been able to string those hits together or build those innings like we did today in the fourth,'' Kotsay said. ''We've done a better job of it post-All-Star break, of not relying just strictly on the home run to win games. So that's a part of the offense that we talk about, that we work on in (batting practice) ... and to see it executed is a good feeling.''
