David Bednar’s Rare Blown Save Leads to Pirates’ 3-2 Loss to Brewers

RECAP

A rare blown save by closer David Bednar allowed the Brewers to rally for a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Bednar allowed rookie Sal Frelick’s tying single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning for just his second blown save in 24 opportunities this season. Another rookie, Blake Perkins, singled in the winning run in the 10th with two outs off Angel Perdomo (2-2).

That ended a string of 18 consecutive save conversions by Bednar.

The Pirates (49-61) managed three hits in losing for the third time in their last four games. Jason Delay accounted for both Pirates’ runs with a double in the fifth inning that opened the scoring.

Starter Bailey Falter pitched four innings of one-run ball in his Pirates’ debut, scattering six hits four days after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in a trade for infielder Rodolfo Castro. The left-hander struck out two and walked one.

Devin Williams (6-3) retired the Pirates in order in the top of the 10^th to get the win.

The Brewers (60-62) won for just the third time in their last nine games but increased their lead in the National League Central to 1.5 games over the Cincinnati Reds.

KEY MOMENT

Perkins came through with the game-winning hit with two outs, grounding a single in right field.

STAR OF THE GAME

Perkins didn’t enter the game until the ninth inning when he scored the tying run as a pinch runner. He then won the game an inning later with his single.

STAT OF INTEREST

Falter became the 11^th pitcher to start a game for the Pirates this season. The Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics have used a major-league-high 16 starters and the Washington Nationals have used the fewest with six. The Pirates used 15 starters last season.

NOTEWORTHY

–Rookie shortstop Alika Williams reached base in all four plate appearances with a single and three walks, running his hitting streak to six games. He is 8 for 19 (.421) in his last seven after going 0 for 5 in the first three games of his career.

–Left fielder Bryan Reynolds’ eight-game hitting streak ended as he went 0 for 34

–Bednar’s blown save cost rookie RHP Andre Jackson a shot at his first major-league win. Jackson relieved Falter in the fifth inning and retired all nine batters he faced in his Pirates’ debut. The Pirates claimed Jackson from the Los Angeles Dodgers off waivers on June 25 and assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis.

–Hitless in his last 14 at-bats, center fielder Jack Suwinski did not start but entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the ninth inning.

–Henry Davis went 0 for 4 and is 4 for 47 (.085) in his last 12 games.

–The Pirates have hit back-to-back home runs nine times, their most in a season since also doing it nine times in 2003. The Atlanta Braves lead the majors this year with 14 back-to-back shots.

UP NEXT

Johan Oviedo (5-11, 4.42) will start for the Pirates against Brandon Woodruff (1-0, 0.79) at 2:10 p.m. Sunday as they try to split the four-game series.

Oviedo has won back-to-back starts after losing eight consecutive decisions. Woodruff has been on the injured list since April 8 with right shoulder inflammation.