PITTSBURGH — Adam Frazier hit a two-run, walk-off home run to the top of the Clemente Wall as the Pirates burst out of their offense slump to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-4.
Frazier’s blast was the first walk off homer of his career and came off Brewers closer Corey Knebel, who entered the game with the fourth-most saves in the National League and a 1.29 ERA.
It was part of a huge night at the plate for Frazier, who also had a two-run triple in the third inning. Starling Marte singled in Frazier one batter later.
Just 24 hours earlier, after the Pirates had been shutout for the second consecutive game by the Brewers, it was Frazier that stepped up to talk to reporters about the offense’s dismal September slide.
“It’s tough,” he said. “That’s baseball, though, so. You’ve just got to keep doing it. We’ve got another game tomorrow, so you just come up and try to put together a big hit when we need it. I think that’s what it’s been the past few games. We just haven’t been able to get that hit to get the offense rolling.”
Wednesday, he provided two of them with his triple and homer to provide four RBIs. The Pirates went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position, but that was enough to get the job done.
“We’ve been close,” he said. “We’ve had guys on base here and there. We just couldn’t capitalize. Tonight, we luckily had a couple. I found a hole. Marte with a hit to tie the game early. It’s been like that all season. We were just a hit or two away from being a really good team.”
Manager Clint Hurdle said the first hit was just as big as the first one as the Pirates snapped a 21.1-inning scoreless drought.
“To get that hit to drive in a couple, yeah, it was a breath of fresh air,” he said.
Here’s more from Frazier on his big night at the plate.
HE SAID IT
“It’s pretty nice when Frazier just decides he’s going to score all the runs. That’s convenient. A good way to win.” — Pirates starter Steven Brault on Frazier’s RBIs.
GAME IN GRAPHS
Frazier didn’t mention if he had any friends or family sitting in right field that he was trying to get a souvenir to, but his two drives went to nearly the same spot on the Clemente Wall. One just found it’s way over the railing.
QUICK HITS
***Brault started and allowed two runs in five innings, with both coming on solo home runs. Brault worked around some issues with his fastball, which was tailing off to his arm side. Instead, he worked extensively with his changeup, while also mixing in the curveball and the slider.
“He made more pitches tonight with his changeup that I’ve ever seen,” Hurdle said. “It was a go-to pitch. That’s one thing that we’ve continued to talk with him about, is incorporating the changeup more, using the changeup more. He got the double play in the fifth inning with the changeup.”
More from Brault on his efficient start:
***Tyler Glasnow was the second half of the piggyback but lasted just 1.1 innings while walking four of the six batters he faced. He did strike out Ryan Braun and Elias Diaz caught Quintin Berry stealing, but it was an extremely disappointing night for Glasnow. He now has an 8.02 ERA on the season and a 6.31 FIP.
***A.J. Schugel allowed two of Glasnow’s runners to score, but stopped the bleeding in the seventh. Dan Runzler, Daniel Hudson, and Felipe Rivero finished things off for his 19th save of the season. Rivero survived a bit of an injury scare when he came down awkwardly on his ankle, but seemed OK and finished the outing.
PHOTOS OF THE NIGHT
