MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Lorenzo Cain homered before exiting with a sore ankle, Milwaukee pitchers combined to strike out 16 and the Brewers improved their playoff position by beating the San Diego Padres 5-1 on Thursday.
The Brewers are 7-2 since reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich broke his right kneecap on a foul ball.
Milwaukee moved within one game of Washington for the top NL wild-card spot. The Brewers began the day tied with Chicago for the second wild-card slot and three games behind Central-leading St. Louis -- the Cardinals played the Cubs later in the day.
Ryan Braun, who struck out with a runner on second to end a 2-1 loss to the Padres on Wednesday night, put Milwaukee ahead with an RBI double in the first inning off Joey Lucchesi (10-9). The Brewers added a run in the third when Keston Huira doubled and later scored on Lucchesi's wild pitch.
Eric Hosmer's leadoff homer in the fourth against starter Jordan Lyles in the fourth made it 2-1.
Cain lined a home run in the fourth. He then left the game with pain in his left ankle.
The Brewers scored twice in the sixth when pinch-hitter Travis Shaw walked and scored on a double by Trent Grisham, who replaced Cain. Grisham hustled to third on the throw to the plate and came around to score as catcher Austin Hedges' throw sailed into left field.
Lyles, acquired from Pittsburgh on July 29, turned in another effective, although short, outing in limiting the Padres to three hits and one run in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out nine, including six in a row.
Freddy Peralta (7-3) struck out three of the four batters he faced. Josh Hader stranded two inherited runners and recorded three outs to pick up his 34th save in 40 tries, breaking a franchise record for left-handers previously held by Dan Plesac.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: OF Hunter Renfroe, who has been recovering from a lingering right ankle injury, returned to the starting lineup. Renfroe hit his 32nd home run on Tuesday in his first appearance since Sept. 7 before being held out of the starting lineup again on Wednesday.
Brewers: C Yasmani Grandal was out of the lineup for the first time since Aug. 18. "We thought he would benefit more by getting a good night's sleep and having some innings off today," manager Craig Counsell said. Manny Pina started in Grandal's place and saw his first action since sustaining a concussion on Sept. 5. .RHP Brandon Woodruff experienced some arm soreness after his first outing in two months on Tuesday after being sidelined with a left oblique strain. "When you get out there and let it go for 35 to 40 pitches for the first time, you're going to be sore," Counsell said.
UP NEXT
Padres: Eric Lauer (8-9, 4.60 ERA) will pitch the opener as San Diego faces the Diamondbacks in the final homestand at Petco Park.
Brewers: Chase Anderson (6-4, 4.50) takes the mound in the opener of a three-game series against the Pirates at Miller Park. Anderson is 8-4 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 career starts vs. Pittsburgh.
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