Progress continues for Matt Garza – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Matt Garza delivers against the Pirates Saturday.(Photo: Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH - The transformation continues for Matt Garza.

Once again utilizing a solid three-pitch mix, the right-hander went inning for inning and pitch for pitch with Pittsburgh Pirates ace Gerrit Cole on Saturday night at PNC Park.

While it wasn't enough to beat Cole and the Pirates the Milwaukee Brewers managed only three hits in a 2-1, 10-inning loss Garza's showing was easilythe highlight of the series thus far.

He went seven innings and allowed eight hits and one run (earned) while not issuing a walk for the second straight outing. Garza also struck out four and took advantage of some solid defense behind him to get out of several jams.

"I had to battle that guy. I used to be that guy," Garza said of Cole. "Used to be able to come in and let it go and tip my hat at the end of the day. It was fun seeing a guy like that because thats where I was. But I like the guy I am now. Im able to use my stuff and control and locate. Im proud I didnt walk a guy.

"Im just trying to command my stuff. Im pitching."

This is what the Brewers envisioned when they asked Garza to alter his approach this spring by making more use of his off-speed stuff. He was hit hard in Arizona then missed the first three weeks with a groin strain before returning to the rotation on April 24.

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Garza went four innings in that one, then extended himself to 6 2/3 innings in picking up his first victory on April 30 against Atlanta.

He battled steady rain, wind and temperatures in the mid-40s on Saturday, allowing his only run in the fourth on a Gregory Polanco groundout.

He took advantage of some poor Pittsburgh baserunning in the second, when the Pirates doubled in consecutive at-bats against him but failed to score. Then after Garza gave up three straight singles to open the sixth, Travis Shaw turned a pretty 5-2 double play to help him out of that jam.

One final double-play ball in the seventh erased a leadoff single, and Garza closed out his night after 86 pitches.

"The defense was amazing tonight," said Garza, who went seven innings just once in 19 starts last season. "They stepped up in these kinds of conditions no errant throws or anything like that. It was huge.

"Anytime you can have a clean game like that, we give us our best chance to win."

Colecombined with the conditions to make things tough on Milwaukee hitters. He also went seven innings and allowed just two hits a Hernn Prez home run and a Domingo Santana single in the fourth and two walks while striking out eight.

"Throwing the crap out of his slider and spotting it," was how Garza summarized Cole's night. "Hes been good. Ever since hes been up and even in college. The guys got a live arm and he just keeps shoving it at you and going at you.

"Thats all you can ask for from a guy like that."

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Where does Milwaukee's rotation stand now with Garza coming around?

Chase Anderson is pitching lights-out to this point, Zach Davies is slowly getting back on track, Wily Peralta has been solid and now Garza is solidly in the mix with his ERA down to 2.55. Jimmy Nelson looked good before his start was scuttled by rain after three innings on Friday.

"Getting starting pitchers performing and doing well is big," manager Craig Counsell said. "(Garza) has gotten into the seventh inning his last two starts, and thats important. Hes done it well. Hes made pitches. As much as anything, just having a guy youre (relying on) when youre rolling around every fifth day, (is valuable).

"Hes in a good spot right now. Hes pitching very well."

Continuing down that path is the top priority for Garza, but he wasn't interested in making any big-picture statements after the game.

"Im not looking that far. Im just looking at tomorrow," he said. "Ill just take it one day at a time. Sometimes we put the cart before the horse and we get run over.

"Im just going to keep going one day at a time. Tomorrow Im going to come in and do my work and start prepping for next week."

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Progress continues for Matt Garza - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel