The Pittsburgh Pirates lost their fourth consecutive game on Friday night, a 5-4 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers in the opening game of a pivotal series between two National League Central rivals.
Rich Hill struggled out of the gate for Pittsburgh, walking four batters and giving up three runs in the first inning. Overall, he lasted five innings, giving up a total of four runs (three earned) on three hits and six walks. He fell to 6-6 on the season.
Julio Teheran started for Milwaukee, giving up two runs on one hit and a walk, improving to 2-2 on the season. Devin Williams earned his 11th save of the season, despite giving up a hit and two walks in a dramatic ninth inning.
A bases-loaded walk to Brian Anderson served as the game’s first run, giving the Brewers an early 1-0 lead. Blake Perkins’ two-run single later in the frame made it 3-0, and it looked as though the home team may run away with this game.
The Bucs got a run back in the second inning on a solo homerun by Carlos Santana, but Milwaukee answered in the fourth with another run on a ground-rule double by William Contreras.
A sacrifice fly by Tucupita Marcano in the sixth cut the lead to 4-2, but once again, the Brewers answered. In the bottom half of the inning, Joey Wiemer’s solo homerun, which ultimately was the game-winning hit, made it 5-2.
Ke’Bryan Hayes’ two-run single in the seventh inning cut the Brewers’ lead to 5-4, and they were able to put multiple runners on base in the ninth inning and threatened to take the lead. With runners on second and third and one out, Hayes struck out. Then, after a walk to Ji Hwan Bae to load the bases with two outs, Jason Delay struck out swinging to end the game.
The Pirates and Brewers will meet back up for the second game of this series on Saturday afternoon. Mitch Keller will take the mound for Pittsburgh against Wade Miley for Milwaukee.
Record vs. Brewers: 0-1
Record vs. N.L. Central: 10-8
Record on the Road: 16-18
Overall Record: 34-34
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
