The Pittsburgh Pirates wrapped up a three game road series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon. This was the rubber match of the series, with each team winning a game. This game was tight early on, but some poor defense and bad pitching in the seventh inning handed Milwaukee a 6-1 win and series victory.
Zach Thompson made the start for Pittsburgh, allowing three hits, striking out five, and walking one during four innings of work. The Brewers started Freddy Peralta, who give up one run on two hits with three strikeouts. That lone run came in the fourth when Ben Gamel hit a solo homer to right center, this would mark the only lead for the Pirates on the day.
Manny Banuelos worked the fifth and gave up one run on one hit with two walks. Willy Adames plated that run with a double to right center. Milwaukee took the lead in the sixth when Omar Narvaez grounded out to second allowing Keston Hiura to score. That would be the first of five runs, four earned, tagged to Miguel Yajure.
Yajure was on the mound to start the seventh when the Brewers pulled away. Hunter Renfroe scored on a Hiura single to left center. Luis Urias hit an RBI single to center, which was followed up by a bases loaded walk to Garrett Mitchell. The final run of the game came on another bases loaded walk, this one with Christian Yelich at the plate.
Yohan Ramierez collected the final two outs of the seventh, though he walked three batters, before Robert Stephenson made his Pittsburgh debut in the eighth. He would strikeout one batter and allow one hit. Milwaukee used three pitchers to cover the final four innings of the game. They combined to allow three hits and strikeout six.
Errors by Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes came back to bite the Pirates in this one. Pittsburgh was also outhit 8-5. The Brewers took a series they needed to as they continue to work towards clinching a postseason berth. The Pirates will return to PNC Park on Friday after an off-day Thursday to begin a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Record vs. Brewers: 8-11
Record vs. N.L. Central: 23-33
Record on the Road: 23-45
Overall Record: 49-81
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
