Fielder homers in 12th, Brewers turn triple play

MILWAUKEE — Prince Fielder hit a solo home run with one out in the 12th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers, helped by a triple play, beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1.

Fielder hit his 37th home run, connecting against Merkin Valdez (2-1). Fielder untucked his shirt before reaching second base and jumped on home plate as his teammates fell over backward in unison in a choreographed celebration.

Mitch Stetter (4-1) pitched the 12th to earn the win.

The Brewers turned their first triple play in 10 years, pulling it in the sixth on Aaron Rowand’s hard grounder.

San Francisco led 1-0 when it put Randy Winn on second and Ryan Garko on first. Rowand followed with a grounder that third baseman Casey McGehee fielded right on the bag.

McGehee touched third and threw to second baseman Felipe Lopez for the force. Lopez’s relay to Fielder beat Rowand by a step, and pitcher Braden Looper celebrated by pumping his fist.

It was the Brewers’ first triple play since April 16, 1999, against the Cubs and fifth overall. San Francisco last hit into a triple play on Aug. 5, 1998, when J.T. Snow did it against the Mets.

Milwaukee tied it at 1 in the bottom of the sixth when Lopez walked, moved to second on Ryan Braun’s single and scored on McGehee’s single.

San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez had another strong outing, giving up a run on six hits and three walks in six innings while striking out nine. He struck out six of the first nine batters he faced, but received a no-decision when he was removed for a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

In 11 starts dating to his no-hitter on July 10, Sanchez is 4-3 with a 2.75 ERA.

Looper came into the game giving up a major league-leading 33 home runs, but kept the ball in the park against the Giants. He pitched seven innings, giving up one run and eight hits. It was the first time in nine starts, and only the sixth time in 29 starts that Looper did not allow at least one home run.

Eugenio Velez doubled down the right-field line to open the game and scored on Pablo Sandoval’s single to put the Giants ahead.

The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs in the 10th, but Bob Howry retired Jason Kendall.

NOTES: Giants 2B Freddy Sanchez is expected to rejoin the team Monday. He has been on the DL since Aug. 18 with a left shoulder strain. … Concerned about the workload this year for RHP Yovani Gallardo, the Brewers said Sunday they would skip his next start and pitch their ace on Sept. 15 at the Chicago Cubs. Gallardo has pitched 175 1-3 innings, up 24 innings from last year when he had a knee injury.