Field Level Media
Jun 2, 2019
Eric Thames doubled, homered and drove in three runs to lead the visiting Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon.
The Brewers took three of four games in the series between the National League Central rivals.
The Pirates' Josh Bell belted his 21st double, most in the major leagues, and picked up his 53rd RBI, also tops in the big leagues, on a groundout.
Milwaukee starter Zach Davies (6-0), who moved up on the schedule after Gio Gonzalez went on the injured list, pitched eight-plus innings, giving up two runs and eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Alex Claudio relieved after Davies gave up a leadoff double in the ninth to Colin Moran. Claudio got one out, and Corbin Burnes the last two for his first save.
Pittsburgh starter Jordan Lyles (5-3) took the loss but rebounded fairly well after leaving his start Tuesday because of a hamstring strain. He allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one.
Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the second. Thames drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on Hernan Perez's single, to third on Orlando Arcia's single and scored on Manny Pina's groundout.
In the third, Ryan Braun hit a one-out single and, after Keston Hiura struck out, Thames hit his seventh homer to right field for a 3-0 Brewers lead.
Pittsburgh cut into the lead in the bottom of the third. Adam Frazier led off with a double, moved to third on Lyles' groundout and scored on Kevin Newman's sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.
In the fourth, the Pirates drew a little closer. Starling Marte bunted for a single and went to third on Davies' throwing error. Bell followed with a groundout that scored Marte, making it 3-2.
Thames' two-out RBI double in the fifth brought home Hiura, who raced home from first after reaching on a fielder's choice to extend the lead to 4-2.
--Field Level Media