PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Frazier hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for an 8-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
A day after blowing a four-run lead in the ninth in what became an 11-inning loss, Pittsburgh delivered a bit of payback thanks to a shaky performance by the Milwaukee bullpen.
“That’s why you take this job, fun nights like that,” first-year Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “Really proud of our group. Resilient in coming back. I think that’s the one thing our fans are going to learn about this group is they don’t give up. They haven’t. We’ve clawed back in every single game. Extremely resilient.”
Cole Tucker went 2 for 4 for the Pirates, including a double leading off the eighth against Bobby Wahl (0-1). With one out and Tucker on third, Frazier sent the second pitch he saw from Wahl halfway up one of the tarps covering the seats in right field at empty PNC Park.
“You watch guys down the line, they’re busting their (tails),” Shelton said. “There’s a lot of good things that happen and it showed up tonight. It showed up late. We put ourselves in situations. Big hit by Tucker … Frazier gets a hold of it. There’s so many good things.”
Geoff Hartlieb (1-0) picked up his first major league win after being called up earlier in the afternoon. Nick Burdi worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to collect the first save of his career.
Keston Hiura hit a two-run drive in the sixth and a sacrifice fly in the seventh as part of a four-run burst that gave the Brewers a 6-2 lead. Pittsburgh responded immediately, tying it on the bottom of the inning thanks in part to a throwing error by Milwaukee first baseman Justin Smoak with the bases loaded that allowed two runs to score.
The seventh inning featured eight combined runs thanks to six walks, a hit by pitch and Smoak’s miscue.
“It was not a good baseball inning for both sides, plain and simple,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said.
YELICH STRUGGLING, REYNOLDS BREAKS OUT
Brewers star Christian Yelich’s rough start continued. The 2018 NL MVP is hitting just .045 (1 for 22) after going 0 for 4, including two strikeouts and a double play.
“We’ll do our best to help him,” Counsell said. “He’s just got to keep grinding through at-bats and that one swing or those two at-bats will happen where he gets one through and feels good and gets it back locked in.’’
Pittsburgh left fielder Bryan Reynolds ended a 0-for-13 skid by going 2 for 4. Reynolds also threw out Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun at the plate in the top of the eighth when Braun represented the go-ahead run.
LINDBLOM EXITS
Milwaukee starter Josh Lindblom lasted 3 2/3 innings in his return to the major leagues following two years in the Korean Baseball Organization, where won the league’s version of the Cy Young Award in 2019. Lindblom gave up two runs and three hits before exiting with what the team called “back cramps” and Lindblom described as “almost like a boa constrictor is wrapping around” his rib cage.
Derek Holland threw 5 2/3 innings in his first start for the Pirates after making the team as a non-roster invitee. The 11-year veteran surrendered two runs and two hits before both bullpens turned things into a bit of a mess.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: LHP Brett Anderson will make his first start for the Brewers on Friday in the home opener against St. Louis. Anderson was scheduled to start on opening day before going on the injured list with a blister on the index finger of his left hand.
Pirates: Placed relievers Kyle Crick (strained lat) and Clay Holmes (right forearm strain) on the 10-day injured list and activated Hartlieb and Del Pozo.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Brandon Woodruff (0-1) makes his second start of the season when the series wraps up Wednesday. Woodruff allowed two runs in five innings in a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on opening day. Woodruff is 2-1 with a 5.07 ERA in seven career appearances against Pittsburgh.
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (0-1) will try to bounce back from an opening-day loss to St. Louis last Friday. Musgrove is 0-1 with a 6.46 ERA against the Brewers.
