After a heartbreaking loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last night, the Pittsburgh Pirates responded with a one-run victory this afternoon.
Ben Gamel avenged a costly error and a missed opportunity at the plate earlier in the game with a huge two run homerun in the seventh inning to lead the Bucs to the victory.
Neither starter earned a decision for their efforts on the mound this afternoon. Zach Thompson lasted just 4.2 innings giving up two runs on six hits, while Brandon Woodruff gave up three runs on four hits in six innings. Chase De Jong tallied the victory (4-0) by pitching just two thirds of an inning, while David Bednar earned his 15th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
Milwaukee scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the second inning. Luis Urias hammered a solo homerun, his 10th of the season, to left center field to make it a 1-0 score. A single by Andrew McCutchen in the fifth inning scored Christian Yelich to increase the Brewers’ lead to 2-0.
Keston Hiura, who has always been a thorn in the Buccos’ side, singled home Milwaukee’s third run of the game, thanks, in part, to Gamel’s error. The Brewers led 3-0 at that point, and it looked as though this might be another tally in the loss column for the Pirates.
But as we have seen time and time again during this season, the Bucs did not give up and battled back. Oneil Cruz doubled home Yoshi Tsutsugo for their first run of the game. A sacrifice fly by Josh VanMeter later in the inning scored Kevin Newman to make it a 3-2 score. Gamel stepped to the plate and crushed his fourth homerun of the season, a two-run blast that scored Cruz and gave the Pirates the lead at 4-3.
This was certainly a feel-good victory for Gamel, Derek Shelton, and the entire Pirates’ team. After a heartbreaking loss a day ago and falling behind by three runs with only three innings remaining today, they rallied and took a win away from the Brewers.
These two clubs will face off in the rubber match of this weekend series tomorrow afternoon. Jose Quintana will take the mound for Pittsburgh against Eric Lauer for Milwaukee.
Record vs. Brewers: 3-9
Record vs. N.L. Central: 17-27
Record on the Road: 15-27
Overall Record: 35-50
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
