Bucs Never Look Back In 7-3 Win Over Milwaukee's Finest

Nice first frame, Buccos. After an out, a bopped batter, four straight singles and Jose Osuna's homer made it 6-0 before anyone could calculate Zach Davies new ERA. Heck, the Pirates even stranded Jordy, who followed that parade with a triple. Cool Chad gave up a double and walk but no runs. Zach recovered with a scoreless second, just giving up a walk. Nick Franklin's bomb got a run back for the Brew Crew and Milwaukee had runners on second & third before Chad finished up. Cutch led of the third with a long ball; keep it going, Bucs. The Crew got it back with  pair of doubles. In the fourth, the Pirates stranded a pair and the Brewers left one aboard. Each club iced a runner on first in the fifth; Chad had some help via a very nice Gregory grab. Josh Hader took over in the sixth and plunked J-Hay, his second bruise of the night. Josh stole second but died there.

It wasn't a thing a beauty but it was Chad's first win since April (photo Joe Guzy/Pirates)

Edgar Santana took the hill for Pittsburgh and had a rough outing. An infield single that was that close was upheld by review and followed by an RBI double by Keon Broxton. In a what would prove a big play, he got happy feet and was gunned down trying to swipe third; that call went to review also (Freeser almost blew the tag). Then came a walk and a call for Tony Watson. A whiff and another double put Brewers at second and third but Tony closed the gate with help from Freeser making a nifty save. The seventh was quiet with Huddy replacing Tony. Carlos Torres gave up a Jordy knock in the eighth for his only black mark.  Juan Nicasio opened with a walk, but another sweet grab by Freeser sandwiched around a pair of K keep the seas calm. It was 1-2-3 for the Pirates in the ninth. Felipe Rivero was waved in and seven pitches later the Brew Crew called it a night.

Jose's three-run shot got the Bucs off and running (image Positively Pittsburgh)

The quick-start attack was great although adding on would have been a help, but on a night when the Brew Crew was smoking the ball, the Bucco gloves shined. Freeser and Jordy had a couple of big-time plays each while Fraze and Gregory, a pair usually not associated with elite leather work, both came up with great grabs. It takes a village...

Notes:

• Cutch was 3-for-3 with a HR & walk, three RBI and two runs. Gregory and Jordy had a pair of raps. Freeser had a knock and a walk while J-Hay was plunked twice.
• J-Hay now leads the league with 14 HBP. Prior to 2017, he had never been nicked more than seven times in a season. Since the start of the 2013 season, Pittsburgh batters have been hit a MLB-leading 371 times; thank you, Reds.
• Amore was scratched from the lineup shortly before game time with the flu; Clint chose beauty over age by replacing him with Eli rather than Stew.
• The Brewers scored 17 consecutive runs as the result of homers. Nick Franklin, who homered in the second to extend the streak, doubled in a run in the third to end it.
• The Pirates announced they've signed two more draft picks: OFs Calvin Mitchell (2nd round - Rancho Bernardo HS) and Conner Uselton (comp round - Southmoore HS). No financials were given. 9th round OF Bligh Madris, who was announced as in the fold this afternoon, signed for $130K (slot - $142.7K) per Jonathan Mayo.
• Joe West umped his 5,000th game today.