Veteran additions help Crew pad NL Central lead

MILWAUKEE -- In acquiring Carlos Santana and Mark Canha before the Trade Deadline, the Brewers added a pair of steady veterans to their lineup who could help down the stretch and into October.

“[Santana] and Mark, the consistency is really what I feel like we've got,” manager Craig Counsell said Saturday afternoon. “For both of them, there's a walk in there. It's low-strikeout [rates], and there's a home run in there.”

Case in point: Saturday’s 7-5 win over the Phillies at American Family Field.

• Games remaining: vs. PHI (1), at PIT (3), at NYY (3), vs. MIA (4), vs. WAS (3), at STL (4), at MIA (3), vs. STL (3), vs. CHC (3)

• Standings update: Brewers hold a 4 1/2-game lead over the Cubs atop the National League Central. With head-to-head records determining a potential tiebreaker, the clubs are tied 5-5 with three games remaining in the season series.

Canha went 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and an RBI, while Santana finished 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk. Canha's one-out double kickstarted a three-run rally in the second inning, and Santana’s homer was part of a four-run rally in the fifth.

“Certainly, those were the two guys that had some big hits, for sure,” Counsell said. “Carlos’ home run and Mark with just a bunch of good at-bats -- like we're getting accustomed to seeing. Those guys did a nice job, and then offensively, we just did a nice job against a good starting pitcher.”

The Brewers chased Phillies starter Aaron Nola after 4 2/3 innings, tagging him for seven runs off eight hits and three walks. Their persistent offensive attack forced him to throw 97 pitches.

The performances by Santana and Canha were a continuation of strong individual stretches at the plate. Each has been trending upward offensively.

Santana is on an 11-game hitting streak, during which he's slashing .366/.480/.659 with nine walks and just seven strikeouts. This follows a 17-game stretch to start his Brewers career in which he slashed just .157/.181/.329 with two walks and 11 strikeouts.

As for Canha, he's slashing .364/.462/.523 over his past 13 games, with six walks and nine strikeouts. He slashed .213/.283/.340 in 14 games as a Brewer prior to this run.

Each of those stretches began on Aug. 18.

“I know what kind of players we are,” Santana said. “My mental [state] right now is finishing strong and helping my team. So every at-bat, I’m focused on getting a good pitch and not trying to do too much. I feel much better. … Coming to a new team, new family, new clubhouse, new fans, new stadium. Try to finish strong and keep it up and help the more we can.”

Santana’s uptick in walks is perhaps as encouraging a sign as any, and a sign of the quality at-bats he’s putting together. He saw 10 pitches against Nola in the first inning, working a free pass after falling behind 0-2.

His homer off Nola in the fifth came on a full count.

“He's had some huge walk years, so he's got those at-bats in him,” Counsell said. “We actually didn't see much of it the first, maybe, 10 days he was here -- the walks. But they've started to come. Those long, extended at-bats -- that’s always been him.”

The offensive performance backed a solid outing by starter Colin Rea, who allowed two runs off three hits over 4 1/3 innings. He allowed a leadoff homer to Kyle Schwarber, but he retired the final nine hitters he faced while racking up six strikeouts without a walk.

The win continued an impressive stretch by the Brewers, who have won 11 of their past 13 games, dating to their series against the Rangers. The two losses came against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Santana said the last couple of series against Chicago and Philadelphia -- the top two teams in the NL Wild Card picture -- have felt like playoff matchups. And playing in that type of atmosphere, with the high stakes of September baseball, has been fun.

The two veteran trade acquisitions continue to play key roles.

“When you win, you’re happy,” Santana said. “We’re in a great spot right now. We’re trying to win the division. Every game is very important to this team. I can see the energy, the attitude. Everything is positive.

“Tomorrow is a new game, new day -- and [we'll] see what happens. The energy on the team, they’ve played great the last 20 games since I’ve been here. The energy has been so different, and we believe.”