Rookie Nate Orf’s homer helps Brewers beat Twins 3-2

Nate Orf hit a solo homer in Milwaukee’s two-run seventh after going hitless in his first seven major league at-bats, helping the Brewers beat the sliding Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Wednesday.
  
Brad Miller homered to right-center off Jose Berrios (8-7) to lead off the bottom of the seventh for the Brewers. Two batters later, Orf sent a 2-2 curveball down the left-field line for a two-run lead.
  
Jesus Aguilar and Manny Pina lifted Orf up by his legs at the dugout steps to help the rookie answer a plea for a curtain call from a vocal crowd.
  
Jeremy Jeffress (6-1) picked up the win despite allowing inherited runner Brian Dozier to score from third on Jorge Polanco’s bloop single to left for a 1-all tie in the top of the seventh. The hit snapped a stretch of 20 1/3 scoreless innings for Minnesota against the Brewers.
  
Corey Knebel worked a rocky ninth for his 10th save. Eduardo Escobar hit his 13th homer and Jorge Polanco singled with two out, but Max Kepler flied to left to end the game.
  
Knebel was helped by a sparkling defensive play from Keon Broxton. The center fielder ran full speed back to the wall and jumped with an outstretched glove to rob Dozier of a homer for the second out.
  
Berrios allowed five hits, struck out three and walked two in seven innings. He got little support from Minnesota’s punchless offense, which managed just three hits in the first 6 1/3 innings against Chase Anderson.
  
The NL Central-leading Brewers picked up their seventh sweep of the season. Minnesota dropped to 1-8 on its nine-game road trip.
  
TRAINER’S ROOM
  
Twins: Two-time All-Star RHP Ervin Santana (right middle finger surgery) is scheduled to make his next rehab appearance on Thursday at Class A Fort Myers. … Manager Paul Molitor said utility player Taylor Motter (concussion symptoms) is on a "pretty good track" to return from the 7-day disabled list on Friday.
  
Brewers: OF Christian Yelich went 1 for 4 after being held out of the starting lineup for five games with lower back tightness. … Manager Craig Counsell said it’s a "pretty good sign" that OF Lorenzo Cain (left groin) is running the bases. "We are close, we just not there yet," the skipper said.
  
UP NEXT
  
Twins: No starter is listed for the opener of a four-game series on Thursday in Baltimore, though Molitor said he was leaning toward Aaron Slegers. The right-hander, who would have to be called up from Triple-A Rochester, has a no-decision in one start this year in the big leagues.
  
Brewers: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (6-3) opens a four-game series against the visiting Atlanta Braves. Chacin is 1-4 with a 3.94 ERA in six career starts against Atlanta.