Seven early Seattle runs decided the game after Dustin May lasted just two innings in his third start for Milwaukee, turning a night after the Brewers' 22-0 rout into a 7-5 loss.
May gave up 10 baserunners before recording his first whiff on pitch No. 61, with poor command and soft contact finding gaps despite Seattle averaging just 76.9 mph exit velocity against him.
Joey Ortiz drove in four runs — including a two-run homer, a sac fly and an eighth-inning RBI single — but Milwaukee stranded eight runners and went 2-for-10 with men in scoring position.
Milwaukee's bullpen kept the comeback alive with seven scoreless innings from Grant Anderson, DL Hall, Bryse Wilson and Antonio Senzatela, but a Cooper Pratt double play blunted the key eighth-inning rally.
The Brewers also lost both ABS challenges in the first inning; catcher William Contreras is 7-for-21 on his last defensive reviews and ranks minus-11 overturns versus expected.