After winning their last three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Milwaukee Brewers turned their heads to another division rival, the Pittsburgh Pirates, as Milwaukee tries to stay ahold of that top spot in the NL Central. Before the first game of the series even started, reliever Jakob Junis was taken to the hospital, after being hit by a fly ball during batting practice.
This first game against the Pirates didn’t go as planned for the Brewers. Milwaukee’s offense could not provide extra-run opportunities when needed losing 4-2. The Milwaukee Brewers still stand in first place in the NL Central with a 14-7 record. They’re a game and a half ahead of the Chicago Cubs, and two and a half games above the Cincinnati Reds. Pittsburgh is three games back of the Brewers now with a 12-11 record.
Milwaukee Brewers Collapse in 4-2 Loss to the Pirates
Pirates legend Andrew McCutchen immediately got his team on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, as Pittsburgh’s designated hitter blasted a leadoff home run to center field. During the top of the third inning, Pirates starter Jared Jones nearly made Brewers second baseman Brice Turang jump out of his shoes. By the looks of his swing, Turang wanted to get his team on the scoreboard, he swung and missed, and with his momentum while swinging, he slipped onto the dirt.
With a 3-1 count, Brewers designated hitter Rhys Hoskins smashed a solo shot to left-center field during the top of the fifth inning to tie this ballgame up at one. Pittsburgh’s starter escaped a huge sixth-inning jam, as with two outs and the bases loaded, Brewers center fielder Blake Perkins hit a pitch right to Jared Jones, getting the much-needed third out, and keeping this game still tied. The Pirates would take the lead during the bottom of the sixth inning when third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes scored after a Brewers infield error.
Pittsburgh Tacks On Two More Runs to Win This First Game of the Series
Five batters later, after the Brewers infield error, Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz lined a two-run single into left field to give his team a solid 4-1 lead. With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, Rhys Hoskins grounded out but received an RBI in the process, making it a 4-2 ball game. Milwaukee’s offense could not get anything going, as they would fall to the Pirates in their first matchup of the season. This is the Brewers second straight loss.
Top Performances from the Brewers Loss to the Pirates
Pirates starter Jared Jones pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits, and two walks while striking out seven. Both Andrew McCutchen and Oneil Cruz were big-time for Pittsburgh as they went three for four in the win. Milwaukee’s starter Joe Ross pitched five and one-third innings allowing one run on six hits, and a walk with four strikeouts. Rhys Hoskins went one for three with a walk and two RBIs in the loss.
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