In the nine games following the All-Star break the Pittsburgh Pirates managed to score 23 total runs. In just two games against the Milwaukee Brewers the Pirates have been able to score 13 runs.
Just as with game one of the three game series, the Pirates found themselves initially at a deficit, but much earlier this time.
Tyler Beede got a spot start as the opener and only managed to last one and a third innings while giving up four earned runs. One of those runs was by way of a single given up by Dillon Peters who replaced Beede in the second.
Peters ended up pitching 2.2 innings giving up only the one inherited run.
From there the Pirates offense decided they wanted to rekindle the previous night’s magic and come back from a deficit.
Tucupita Marcano got things going in the third by leading off with a single. Two outs and then two walks later Ke’Bryan Hayes came through with bases loaded to score two runs and cut the lead in half.
From there the bullpen would go into lockdown mode again for the time being with Chase De Jong and Duane Underwood Jr. combining for three scoreless innings with three strikeouts between them.
The Pirates tied the game in the bottom of the sixth by scoring two runs between a Michael Chavis RBI double and capped off by a Marcano RBI single. Marcano celebrated his promotion from earlier in the day by going three for four on the night complete with triple to go along with his RBI single.
In the seventh they would take the lead with a Ke’Bryan Hayes single — who was then thrown out on the play at 1B after getting caught thinking of advancing to second on the throw — before Oneil Cruz delivered the big hit. And by big, I mean he hit a ball 434 ft to deep right-center that bounced off the top of the sheet metal roof of the cabana and found it’s way to the river for a two-run homerun and 7-4 lead.
Everything appeared to be going in the Pirates favor but Yerry De Los Santos couldn’t repeat Tuesday’s performance. Yerry only got two outs in the eighth while allowing four hits and a walk letting the Brewers tie the game at seven. Wil Crowe would enter and got a groundout from Andrew McCutchen to limit the damage.
After the offense went down quietly in the bottom of the eighth only managing one baserunner by way of a Jason Delay walk, Crowe took the mound again in the ninth and made quick work of the Brewers with a 1-2-3 inning.
This setup the perfect moment for Bryan Reynolds who just celebrated the birth of his second child. Coming into the game Reynolds hadn’t collected a hit since July 8th when the Pirates last played the Brewers in Milwaukee.
The now Hader-less Brewers turned to Devin Williams who got behind in the count 2-0 and threw a fastball at the top of the zone that Reynolds was clearly ready for. Reynolds showed some urgency turning on the fastball and hit it 425 ft to walk-off the game for the Buccos’ second win in a row. He would finish the game three for four while also drawing a walk.
Brewers @ Pirates
Time: 1:35 PM EST
Pirates Starter: Zach Thompson (3-8, 5.09)
Brewers Starter: Brandon Woodruff (9-3, 3.55)
Thompson Notes: Zach Thompson will be taking the mound in Thursday’s matinee and series finale for his 18th start of the season. He has had a very rough go lately allowing seven earned runs in each of his last two starts. In both starts Thompson did manage to pitch into the sixth inning which will likely be needed on Thursday after Wednesday’s bullpen game.
LINEUPS:
Pirates
Thursday afternoon baseball.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/2fLJulKZTC
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 4, 2022
Brewers
1. Christian Yelich (L) DH
2. Willy Adames (R) SS
3. Rowdy Tellez (L) 1B
4. Andrew McCutchen (R) LF
5. Kolten Wong (L) 2B
6. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
7. Victor Caratini (S) C
8. Mike Brosseau (R) 3B
9. Jonathan Davis (R) CF
Taylor Davis is with the Pirates…
