Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers Match Player Stats On Aug 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 16, 2017

MILWAUKEE -- Manny Pina wiped out a late-inning deficit with a two-run home run and the Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to four games with a 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park.

All of Milwaukee's offense came by way of the homer; the Brewers hit five of them, including two from center fielder Keon Broxton.

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole had only allowed three runs in three starts against Milwaukee this season, but was charged with four Wednesday on five hits and two walks while striking out nine.

While the Brewers relied on power, the Pirates used small ball to generate their runs. Pittsburgh took advantage of two Milwaukee errors to put three runs on the board and drove in all six runs on RBI singles.

They scored five runs off Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson, who struck out seven over 6 1/3 innings while allowing eight hits and a walk.

His own throwing error put the Brewers in a 1-0 hole in the first inning, and Pittsburgh made it a 4-0 game with three straight run-scoring singles in the third.

Broxton put the Brewers on the board with a home run to lead off the bottom of the inning. Neil Walker cut the deficit to a run later in the frame with a two-run shot, his first as a Brewer.

Nelson had retired 11 in a row when Chris Stewart singled with one out in the seventh. Jesus Aguilar botched the throw on a John Jaso grounder, putting two on for Starling Marte.

Marte bounced into a force that got Stewart at third but Josh Harrison followed with a single to left that scored Jaso, giving Pittsburgh a 5-4 lead.

Broxton came through again, leading off the bottom of the seventh with his second of the game. Josh Bell opened the eighth with a triple off Anthony Swarzak (5-3) and scored two batters later on Adam Frazier's single, putting the Pirates back in front.

The Brewers weren't quite done, though. Aguilar hustled for a one-out infield single and Juan Nicasio (1-5) hung a 2-1 slider to Pina, who belted it to right for his ninth of the season.

Corey Knebel worked a scoreless ninth for his 24th save.

NOTES: The Brewers were without SS Orlando Arcia (back spasms) and LF Ryan Braun (day off) but had RHP Anthony Swarzak available out of the bullpen after he missed four games with neck stiffness. ... Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said C Francisco Cervelli was "improving" but sat out again Tuesday as he recovers from a sore left wrist. ... Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell flipped his starters for his team's weekend series at Colorado. RHP Matt Garza will now start Friday and Brandon Woodruff will go Saturday.