Big Flies + Small Ball = 7-4 Brewer Win

Pablo Reyes started the Bucs off with a knock against Gio Gonzalez. Cervy walked two outs later, but J-Bell took a full-count change that caught the knees for strike three. Chris Archer gave up a lead off hit to Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich whacked a 3-2 slider, pretty much down the middle, out of the yard. An out later, Travis Shaw belted a change into the seats before Arch closed it out. Fran visited him between homers and wasn't a very happy camper regarding his battery mate if body language is any indicator. After a walk and a K in the second, Cain pulled back a homer, robbing Jordy with a leaping catch at the wall in RC before Arch rolled out. The Brew Crew got a one-out oppo field double from Manny Pina with no damage done. Pablo opened the third with a walk and an out later, J-Low's triple to right plated the first Bucco run, and he came home on Cervy's sac fly, just sliding in (head first) ahead of Cain's strike from center. Arch tossed a clean frame. The Pirates were quiet in the fourth; the Brew Crew managed a rap. Pablo is having a day; he yanked a high heater over the LF fence to knot the score with an out in the fifth. J-Low walked after Marte lost a challenged play at first, and it was time for Corbin Burnes, who closed out the frame.

Arch didn't impress tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Orlando Arcia opened with a single, lining a slider off Arch's butt at 101 MPH. Chris isn't very well padded there, but hung in after walking it off while Cervy wisecracked. Cain worked a walk. A deep fly moved Arcia to third, then Cain swiped second. A sac fly put the Brewers back on top and moved the back runner up. Lefty Shaw was walked to get to Ryan Braun; Shaw stole second, too, but Braun looked at a strike three sinker to close the gate. Joey O doubled with an out in the sixth and J-Hay's fly moved him up a sack, but he died at third. Steven Brault took the mound (Arch was at 103 tosses) and gave up an 0-2 pitch Texas League single, then a double. An out later, Arcia pushed a line drive squeeze bunt up the first base line; it kissed the chalk and rolled into short right for a perfectly placed two-run bunt double. He stole third but was cut down eventually at home on a contact play. A walk brought on Michael Feliz, who finally got the third out. Corey Knebel got the seventh inning call and Fraze opened with a single. Starling got plunked in the elbow with an out, but nothing developed. Dovy Neverauskas toed the slab and almost tossed a rare clean inning, but a two-out, two-strike homer by Mike Moustakas ended that dream.

Joakim Soria was waved in for the eighth. J-Bell doubled to open, and J-Hay's two-bagger chased him home. With two outs, southpaw Xavier Cedeno was called in to face Fraze, who banged out sharply to second. Edgar Santana took the ball and with one away, a liner ticked off Jordy's glove into left for a knock; no prob - Jordy gobbled up the next ball for an inning-ending 6-3 DP. Jeremy Jeffress took the rubber in the ninth. A couple of K's, a walk and a bouncer closed the book.

Pablo Reyes is taking his shot at staying on the Pirates radar (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Brew Crew did what a playoff contender should do - they hit homers, they bunted, they hit sac flies, they supported their pitchers with some D, and it added up to a victory. The Bucs are in audition mode, adding to their 2019 decision database, but they need some muscle for quick runs, something the youngs guns don't project to provide. We'll see if that becomes a thing during the off season,especially with Gregory dinged. Their station-at-a-time attack led to a 1-for-11 w/RISP line tonight. They also have to get Arch to pound the strike zone early; guys wait him out like they did with Frankie Liriano. We hope that lesson was learned.

Notes:

• Pablo's long ball was his first MLB homer. He had two hits and a walk. J-Low and Joey O both had a knock and a walk.
• Fraze has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games against the Brewers. He's gone 11-for-22 with a double, three homers and eight RBI in his last six games at Miller Park.
• Arch is 1-3/5.54 in eight Bucco starts.