Brewers muster just 3 hits in 5-0 loss to Pirates
PITTSBURGH (AP) — When Aaron Hill and Scooter Gennett reached base in the fifth inning, Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell sensed a scoring chance developing with his team down by three.
Ramon Flores grounded a ball to the outfield grass behind short and it appeared the Brewers would at least load the bases, if not push a run across. Instead, Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer ranged quickly to his rear and lunged.
He fielded the grounder and threw to third to force out Hill. With the Brewers' momentum stifled, Jon Niese worked out of the inning and combined with two other pitchers to shut out the Brewers, 5-0 Saturday night in Pittsburgh.
"The play of the game was Mercer's play," Counsell said. "That was our chance, bases-loaded, nobody out. That was a nice play that really, I thought we'd score runs there, put a stop to a big inning."
Milwaukee had a chance to claim a winning record Saturday for the first time since the Brewers finished the 2014 season 82-80. Instead, Niese (2-0) delivered the best outing by a Pirates starter this season while Andrew McCutchen hit his first home run to help the Pirates break their four-game skid.
McCutchen's solo shot off Taylor Jungmann in the fifth inning increased the Pirates' lead to 4-0 after they scored three runs in the fourth.
The drive to left field came in the star center fielder's 54th plate appearance. McCutchen was so happy that he stopped in front of dugout after rounding the bases, broke into a big smile and raised his hands skyward.
"It was about time," McCutchen said. "I've hit so many balls right on the barrel already this season and don't have much to show for it. I could have eight home runs already with a little bit of luck."
Jungmann (0-2) had his road woes continue as he allowed four runs and six hits in six innings with six strikeouts and one walk. The Brewers have lost Jungmann's last nine starts away from Milwaukee and he is 0-8 with 9.39 ERA in those games.
The right-hander used his curveball effectively in the first three innings before Pittsburgh's hitters adjusted to it later in the game. McCutchen's 401-foot home run came on a curveball Jungmann hung over the middle of the plate.
"They very well could have been looking for it," Jungmann said. "I think I left it up a couple times that inning where before I was getting down in the zone."
Niese won his second straight start, giving up all three hits while walking three and striking out three in seven innings.
"I thought he had pretty good sink," Counsell said. "His ball down in the zone had some life, sink to it and then he kept you honest in to make the sinker effective."
The Brewers lost for the third time in four games. The Pirates got back to .500 after winning for just the second time in eight games since beginning the season 4-0.
Josh Harrison had two hits and drove in two runs for the Pirates, including an RBI triple that highlighted the three-run third and a single in the eighth that capped the scoring.
BREWERS MOVES
The Brewers optioned outfielder Keon Broxton to Triple-A Colorado Springs to make room for Sunday's starter Zach Davies on the 25-man roster.
Milwaukee capitalized on a handful of early off-days to use a four-man rotation and carry an extra hitter, but needed to re-balance the roster with Davies' return to the major league club. Broxton went 0 for 18 in six games with the Brewers and manager Craig Counsell hopes he will benefit from the experience.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Blaine Boyer (strained neck) was available to pitch in relief after having missed a week but did not get into the game.
Pirates: LHP Francisco Liriano (strained right hamstring) threw in the bullpen before the game and declared himself ready to start Tuesday night at San Diego. He was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday against Detroit.
UP NEXT
Davies will start the finale of the three-game series Sunday against Juan Nicasio (1-1, 5.00). Davies is 0-0 with a 2.00 ERA in two starts with Colorado Springs after going 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA in six starts for Milwaukee at the end of last season.