Thames guides Brewers to series tying win over Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates three game winning streak came to an end on Saturday night

Milwaukee, WI – The Pittsburgh Pirates got the offense going early with a leadoff base hit from rookie shortstop Kevin Newman, which extended his hitting streak to 19 games (franchise rookie record). Later in the inning, Colin Moran ripped a double into right field scoring Newman, giving the Pirates the lead. First baseman Josh Bell was thrown out at the plate on the same play trying to extend the lead to two in the inning.

Milwaukee knotted the game up in the bottom of the first when Pirates pitcher Jordan Lyles threw a pickoff attempt away that scored Christian Yelich. The Brewers’ Eric Thames had himself a night and started it off by notching an RBI triple that scored Ryan Braun, then in the fourth inning he hit a solo home run off the right field foul pole to give Milwaukee a 3-1 lead.

The fifth inning was a big opportunity that the Bucs squandered stranding two runners on base and one in scoring position. Corey Dickerson led off the inning with a double out to left field, but would remain at 2nd until the pitcher Lyles hit a soft dribbler in front of the plate that moved Dickerson over to third. Catcher Elias Diaz struck out and Adam Frazier lined out to right prior to the Lyles infield single. Newman grounded out to the second baseman Keston Hiura that ended the frame with the deficit remaining at 3-1.

Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff had a strong outing scattering six hits through 7.2 innings striking out six and allowing just one earned run. The Pirates struggled to get any production from the middle of their lineup; Reynolds, Marte and Bell combining for an 0-11 night.

In the eighth, Newman collected a 2-out double that would knock Woodruff out of the game, but reliever Matt Albers shut down the threat by inducing a fly ball to right field from Reynolds.

To close things out in the ninth the Brewers turned to lights out closer Josh Hader, who set down the Pirates in order to pick up his 20th save of the season and give the Brewers a series tying 3-1 win.

Tonight’s line:

(MIL) Brandon Woodruff W (10-2) 7.2 IP 6 H 1 ER 6K

(PIT) Jordan Lyles L (5-4) 6.0 IP 5 H 3 ER 5 K 2 BB

(MIL) Josh Hader (SV-20)

Tomorrow’s probables:

(PIT) Steven Brault 3-1 4.50 ERA

(MIL) Zach Davies 7-2 3.34 ERA

First pitch scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET