MILWAUKEE -- Jonathan Villar bookended the Brewers' day at the plate with strikeouts, including a whiff with the tying runner on base in the ninth to end a 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays at Miller Park on Tuesday. But in the intervening innings, he offered a glimpse of the player the Brewers hope can emerge from a slump that is going on two full months to start this season.
Villar singled in the fifth inning, walked in the seventh and stole three bases to match his career high for the fourth time. His two-run single in the fifth pulled the Brewers to within a run before Villar stole second and then stole third, leaving him 90 feet from scoring the tying run with Ryan Braun and Travis Shaw due to hit.