The Cleveland Guardians’ usually solid bullpen faltered as the Milwaukee Brewers won 9-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.

Cleveland won the three-game series, but the Detroit Tigers increased their lead to 3½ games in the AL Central Division with a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Remember Jake Bauers? He played for the Cleveland Indians in 2019 and 2021. Bauers hit an RBI double off Gavin Williams in the second inning.

Kyle Manzardo tied the score in the bottom of the second with a solo homer to center field. Manzardo leads the Guardians with 10 home runs.

Cleveland took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Nolan Jones singled to score Jose Ramirez.

Milwaukee tied the game in the fifth on a solo homer to center field by Sal Frelick.

BULLPEN BUNGLE

The Brewers surged to a 5-2 lead by scoring three runs in the sixth off Tim Herrin (3-1) and Jakob Junis.

Rhys Hoskins and Bauers hit run-scoring singles, and Junis plunked Caleb Durbin with a pitch with the bases loaded.

In the seventh, Hoskins launched a two-run homer off Joey Cantillo to increase Milwaukee’s lead to 7-2.

DON’T GIVE UP!

Ramirez gave hope to the Guardians’ fans with a 420-foot, three-run blast to center field. Cleveland was within striking distance, trailing 7-5 after eight innings.

However, Hoskins struck again with a two-run single in the ninth off Zak Kent, completing a five-RBI performance.

The Guardians will take the day off before visiting the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. Tanner Bibee (3-3) will start for Cleveland against the Reds’ Brady Singer (4-2).