Pittsburgh Pirates Win Second Straight Over First Place Brewers

The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 33-38 this season

Powered by a 6 run first inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 7-3 on Tuesday night. With the win, the Bucs pulled to 4 games of the first place Brewers in the National League Central. Additionally, the are now 4-1 against the Brewers this season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 2-0 on their 7 game road trip. Most impressively, these wins have come at their house of horrors: Miller Park in Milwaukee.

The top of the 1st inning was a great one for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With 1 out, Josh Harrison was hit by his National League leading 13th pitch. Gregory Polanco then singled to put runners on the corners. After an infield hit by David Freese made it 1-0 Pirates, Elias Diaz singled to load the bases with still just 1 out.

Andrew McCutchen then remained red hot ripping a 2-run single into left field to make it 3-0 Pirates. A Nick Franklin error allowed Diaz and McCutchen to each move up a base.

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The Franklin error proved to be a moot point. This is because Jose Osuna blasted his 5th home run of the season to make it 6-0 Pirates.

After Jordy Mercer‘s team leading 3rd triple, Zach Davies finally closed the door on the Pirates. Chad Kuhl, who batted before taking the mound on Tuesday night, struck out and Adam Frazier grounded out to end the inning with the Pirates leading 6-0.

The Brewers attempted to start to rally in the bottom half of the inning. Eric Sogard doubled to start the inning and advanced to third on a fly out. However, Chad Kuhl then got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and strand Sogard.

Milwaukee would get on the board in the bottom of the 2nd. Nick Franklin homered to lead off the inning, cutting the Pirate lead to 6-1.

After a walk, a single, and a sacrifice bunt the Brewers looked prime to score more runs. However, Kuhl then struck out Sogard and Eric Thames to thwart the threat.

Andrew McCutchen would get that run right back for the Pirates. To start the top of the 3rd inning he belted his 14th home run of the season, extending the Pirate lead to 7-1.

In 5 innings pitched on Tuesday night, Zach Davies struggled immensely for the Brewers. He allowed 7 runs on 10 hits, 2 home runs, and a walk. He also struck out 4 batters.

After the Brewers scored a run in the bottom of the 3rd, Kuhl pitched out a jam again in the bottom of the 4th. Milwaukee had runners on the corners and just 1 out, but he recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the 4th inning with the Pirates leading 7-2.

With 1 out in the top of the 6th inning Josh Harrison was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. This ran his National League leading hit by pitch total to 14. Josh Hader, the Brewers’ top pitching prospect, would then retire the next 2 batters to end the inning.

Chad Kuhl wound up lasting just 5 innings on Tuesday night. He held the Brewers to 2 runs on 7 hits, a home run, and 2 walks. At times, Kuhl found himself in trouble. However, thanks to the help of 6 strikeouts he was able to keep the Brewers in check.

Edgar Santana took over for Kuhl in the bottom of the 6th inning.

Orlando Arcia reached on an error by Jose Osuna to start the inning and then scored on a RBI double by Keon Broxton to cut the Pirate lead to 7-3. This play was assisted by a very poor play in left field by Adam Frazier who bobbled the ball.

After a poor play by his defense, Santana’s defense would then pick him up. Elias Diaz gunned down Broxton attempting to advance to third base on a pitch in the dirt for the first out of the inning. After walking Eric Sogard, Santana was lifted for Tony Watson.

Jun 20, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman David Freese (23) throws out Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw (21) (not pictured) during the sixth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Watson struck out Eric Thames for the second out of the inning. Domingo Santana then snuck a ball between David Freese and the third base line for a double to put runners on second and third with 2 outs. He then got Travis Shaw to hit a chopper toward third base that Freese made an excellent barehanded play on to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 7th, Clint Hurdle handed the reigns over to Daniel Hudson. Hudson retired the Brewers in order, marking the first time all night that Pirate pitching retired the Brewers’ hitters in order.

Jordy Mercer singled to start the top of the 8th inning. However, the next 3 Pirate hitters would be retired. Keeping the score at 7-3.

Juan Nicasio pitched the bottom of the 8th inning for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After issuing a leadoff walk, Nicasio struck out Keon Broxton. David Freese then made another top notch barehanded play, this time to retire the speedy Eric Sogard for the second out of the inning. He then struck out Eric Thames to end the inning.

After the Pirates were retired in order for the first time all night in the top of the 9th, Felipe Rivero pitched the bottom of the 9th. Rivero would do what he does and give the opposing hitters no hope, retiring the Brewers in order on just 7 pitches. The final out was made thanks to a great diving catch by Adam Frazier.

Next: Jordy Mercer Is Having The Best Season Of His Career

Game 3 of the 4 game series is scheduled for 8:10 PM on Wednesday night. Trevor Williams will start for the Pirates, while the Brewers will send Junior Guerra to the hill. With a win on Wednesday, the Pirates would pull to just 3 games out of first place in the National League Central.

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