The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night in extra innings by a score of 3-2. Milwaukee trailed 1-2 entering the ninth inning, Sal Frelick tied it in the ninth, and then Blake Perkins walked it off in the tenth. Neither rookie was in the starting lineup for the game, but played significant roles in the outcome of the game.
MLB News: What was the history made during the Milwaukee Brewers comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates?
According to OPTA Stats, the Brewers became the first team in the modern era to get a game tying hit in the ninth and a walk-off hit in the tenth from two rookies who did not start the game. Sal Frelick entered in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter for Tyrone Taylor and Blake Perkins was a pinch runner in the ninth inning for Carlos Santana.
In the ninth inning Sal Frelick got the big hit that eventually sent the game into extra innings. His RBI chance was made possible due to some very risky base running by pinch runner Blake Perkins. During a Willy Adames fly out to right field he tagged up from first base and safely made it to second base. He then advanced to third base on a wild pitch.
An inning later Blake Perkins delivered the final hit of the game, but was made possible by the Pirates intentionally walking multiple batters in the inning. With left-handed Angel Perdomo on the mound they first gave Mark Canha a free pass to first base to set up a lefty-lefty match up with Christian Yelich. They then let William Contreras on base in order to face the switch hitting Blake Perkins. History was then made as he delivered with a game winning base knock.
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