MILWAUKEE _ At last, some real, tangible progress for Jimmy Nelson.
The right-hander pitched six strong innings to snap a personal six-game losing streak and lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park on Monday night.
A three-run first by the Brewers' offense proved to be enough behind Nelson, who allowed seven hits and two runs (earned) while striking out four in a 95-pitch outing. He improved to 7-13 on the season.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis had an eventful opening inning, making a beautiful sprawling catch in right field to rob D.J. LeMahieu of extra bases in the top half and then dropping a two-RBI single to center in the bottom half.
Nelson had another shaky opening inning. He threw 25 pitches in falling behind, 1-0, and also hit his major-league-leading 17th batter when he plunked former teammate Gerardo Parra in the foot with a breaking ball.
The Brewers tied it up three batters into the bottom of the first against Chad Bettis. Jonathan Villar singled and quickly stole second, becoming the first player since Scott Podsednik in 2004 to reach 50 in a season. He also became just the fourth player in franchise history to pilfer 50, joining Podsednik, Pat Listach (1992) and Tommy Harper (1969).
Villar went to third on a Keon Broxton groundout and scored when Daniel Descalso booted Ryan Braun's chopper to shortstop.
Nieuwenhuis' single made it 3-1, and that score stood until the fourth, when Chris Carter lifted a solo homer to left off Bettis. It was Carter's 30th of the season and his major-league-leading 21st at home.
Colorado got a run back in the fifth when David Dahl singled, stole second and scored on a D.J. LeMahieu single.
But the Rockies managed just one base runner the rest of the way against Nelson, who ended his night with a strikeout of Ben Paulsen and a fist pump as he walked off the mound. His six-inning stint was his longest since July 16, and he didn't issue a walk for the first time since last Sept. 17.
Carlos Torres, Corey Knebel and Tyler Thornburg each threw a scoreless inning to help nail down the victory. Thornburg recorded his fifth save a night after pitching a season-high two innings in the Brewers' come-from-behind victory in Seattle.
