Bru-Crew Tops Brew Crew 6-1 In Series Opener

Today's Game: Adrian Houser spun a 1-2-3 first; ditto for JT Brubaker, who fanned a pair. Colin Moran opened the offense in the second with an oppo boppo, his third, followed with a couple of hard hit outs. JT followed with another clean inning. Adam Frazier singled with two gone in the third, but erased himself with a caught stealing. Bru gave up a leadoff double, fanned the 8-9 hitters, then bopped the next pair to load the sacks. It took nine pitches, but Brubaker won his duel with Travis Shaw with a full-count K. Pittsburgh opened the fourth with a walk and an infield knock, but couldn't cash in. It was three grounders, three outs for the Brew Crew. The Bucs opened with back-to-back knocks (Kevin Newman's swinging bunt was overturned to a safe call) in the fifth. Bru couldn't bunt them up, and lefty Brent Suter came on to face Fraze. He made up for JT's failure by tripling into the RF corner. Bryan Reynolds two-out two-bagger made it 4-0 and Redbeard walked before the party ended. A single/double combo got back a run for Milwaukee, and a two-out bopped batter caused no further damage.

Redbeard went deep to open the scoring - 2021 Pirates image

Suter served a quiet sixth. A leadoff single was no big thing for JT; the runner was caught stealing between a pair of whiffs. Angel Perdomo got the ball in the seventh and fanned a pair in a calm frame. Chris Stratton climbed the bump, and after a free pass and two punch outs, he ran into trouble by giving up a knock and a walk to jam the sacks. Shelty waved in Sam Howard, who coaxed a fly to save the bacon. Devin Williams was the Brewers eighth-inning arm, and Pittsburgh added on when a leadoff walk and Gregory's two-down, two-run dinger made it a much more comfortable 6-1 score. Kyle Crick gave up a leadoff walk, but a DP nicely played by Redbeard (he got the runner at first, then the Buc IF finished off the lead guy in a rundown) and a K capped it. Drew Rasmussen got the ninth and shut down the Pirates, surviving a shot to the track by Evans. Duane Underwood took it home, issuing a two-out walk for dramatic effect. Raise it!

Great game by Bru, who went six innings, giving up a run on four hits, no walks (although three HBP) and eight K on 83 pitches. Who had him as the early breakthrough young gun? Add in a couple of clutch two-out rips and some timely hitting (the Bucs only stranded five runners), and it was a good night in Milwaukee.

Notes:

• Fraze had two hits; B-Rey reached three times on a homer and two walks. Redbeard got aboard twice on a long ball and walk.
• Pittsburgh has won 5-of-7.
• Ke'Bryan Hayes took live batting practice and is now day-to-day, and he may yet be activated in Milwaukee.
• BTW, it's no long Miller Park; the ballyard's new name is American Family Field.

Tomorrow's Game: Game time is 7:10 and the contest will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Trevor Cahill takes on Brett Anderson.