PHOENIX — By the time Prince Fielder sees Cecil Cooper this weekend, he likely will have broken the Astros manager’s record for most RBIs in a single season by a Brewers player.
“It’s really an honor to be mentioned with a guy like Cecil, a first baseman, especially,” Fielder said. “This organization has had some great players, so it’s a big deal. It’s really cool.”
Fielder hit his 39th home run of the season Sunday to tie Cooper for the franchise record of 126 RBIs in a 5-3 victory over Arizona, completing a three-game sweep.
Cooper, whose Astros begin a three-game series in Milwaukee on Friday, set the mark in 1983.
“We’re ready for one more (RBI) tomorrow,” Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said.
Fielder, who leads the majors in RBIs, also singled to start a four-run seventh inning off Arizona left-hander Daniel Schlereth (0-4) to give the Brewers a 5-2 lead.
“It’s tough,” Fielder said about facing lefties,” but I just try to have the same approach. Just see the ball and put the bat on it.”
Corey Hart walked and Mike Rivera singled with one out to load the bases in the seventh before Escobar grounded a single to right field to drive in two runs for a 3-2 lead.
With two outs, Felipe Lopez drove in a run with a chopping infield single that third baseman Mark Reynolds had trouble getting the ball from his glove to his throwing hand. Mike Cameron capped the inning with another RBI single for a 5-2 lead.
“We kind of scratched and clawed a little bit,” Macha said.
Carlos Villanueva, the fourth of seven Milwaukee pitchers, retired all six batters he faced to improve to 3-10.
Trevor Hoffman got his 32nd save in 35 chances with a perfect ninth.
Milwaukee (69-73) has won three straight after losing five of six. The Brewers had 20 runs and 37 hits in the series after scoring 10 runs in their previous six games.
Chris Young’s two-run homer in the fourth inning off fill-in starter Chris Narveson gave Arizona a 2-1 lead, its first lead of the series.
Young has six home runs in nine games, a streak that began with a three-homer game in Colorado on Sept. 6. He has 13 homers this season.
“The personal success doesn’t really matter when you don’t get the win, but it’s good for me to get that confidence back and go out and produce and help the team. I just need to keep that going,” Young said.
Arizona (62-82) has lost nine of 10 and is 20 games under .500 for the first time this season.
Arizona starter Max Scherzer gave up one run, Fielder’s homer, and three hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Scherzer does not have a decision in two starts this season against Milwaukee despite giving up one run and eight hits in 13 innings. He threw six scoreless innings in Milwaukee on April 30.
Ryan Roberts singled in Eric Byrnes in the seventh, after Byrnes’ one-out pinch-hit double.
“It’s a shame for our team that we can’t find a way to win a game when your starter gives you the chances that he did,” Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said.
“You have to find different way to win games, and we’re not doing that. The losses are mounting, and the frustration is definitely there.
Narveson did not allow a hit in the first there innings before leaving after giving up three straight hits to open the fourth. He replaced Manny Parra, who was scratched Saturday because of neck stiffness.
NOTES: Milwaukee right-hander Seth McClung threw 45 pitches in a simulated game Sunday morning and will remain in Arizona to pitch in the instructional league Wednesday. McClung has been on the disabled list since July 25 with a sprained elbow. Milwaukee infielder Craig Counsell, the MVP of Arizona’s 2001 NLCS victory over Atlanta, received a nice ovation when he entered the game as a pinch-runner in the eighth. Escobar took a hit away from Rusty Ryal in the sixth inning, ranging far into the hole and side-arming a perfect throw to first base from six feet in the outfield grass to beat Ryal by a step. Milwaukee right-hander Mark DiFelice was removed with a right shoulder strain after facing three batters in the fourth inning. “He felt something pop in there,” Macha said, adding that DiFelice will be reevaluated Monday.
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