Bombs Away In Pittsburgh, PA...Bucs Win 11-2

Edison Volquez and Yovani Gallardo picked up where they left off from their last duel. It was 2-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, both righties overcoming shaky starts. The Brewers plated the first run, an RBI single by Aramis Ramirez, who has turned into a RISP monster this year, in the opening frame. The Bucs came right back to take the lead three batters later when Cutch bombed a 2-2 fastball over the CF wall.

The Brew Crew tied it in the third when Jonathan Lucroy singled home Ryan Braun, who had led off with a double; both Milwaukee runs scored with two down. That's how it stayed, at least on the Milwaukee ledger. Both pitchers left in the seventh for pinch hitters with the score still two-all.

The Brewers got the short end of that deal as Jordan Shafer whiffed in Eddie's final frame hitting for Gallardo, while Josh Harrison banged a curve for a two-run shot of Rob Wooten while batting for Volquez to give Pittsburgh the lead. Harrison had been 0-for-the season before failing to get a bunt down, followed by his line-hugging drive over the LF fence. Starling Marte added another with an infield single, a stolen base that got him to third on a bad throw and a trot home on a grounder to make it 5-2.

Mark the Shark pitched a perfect eighth, and Milwaukee's Rule 5 pick, lefty Wei-Chung Wang, plucked from Pittsburgh, took the hill. He had been roughed up in his first two outings, and his NL initiation continued.

Gaby greeted him with a homer, JT doubled in another run (guess he's feeling better after kissing the wall yesterday) and a Russ Martin grounder brought Tabata home. Pedro iced the cake with a two-out, three run opposite field shot on a 1-2 fastball. Bryon Morris cruised through the ninth, and the Bucs had an 11-2 win to open the series.

Volquez's line was seven IP, his longest start of the season, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk with three K's after an economical 77 pitches; he retired 20 out of 28 batters out on three pitches or less. Tonight's victory was his first as a Bucco.

Charlie Morton takes on Kyle Lohse tomorrow night.

Jordy Mercer and Starling Marte each had a pair of hits (Marte also added two steals), hopefully signalling an end to some recent slumping. Russ Martin and Pedro Alvarez also had a pair of knocks.

Martin threw out a pair of attempted base stealers.

For such a nice night, the crowd was a disappointing 17,584.

The Brewers bullpen’s ERA rose from an MLB-best 1.33 to 3.16 tonight.

Jason Grilli and Iron Mike Tyson, who threw out the first pitch