Four Home Runs Push Pirates Past Brewers, 8-6

The Pittsburgh Pirates (36-50) took the game and the series against the Milwaukee Brewers (48-39) with an 8-6 win on Sunday, July 10. 

Starters Jose Quintana and Eric Lauer got into trouble early, with neither pitching into the sixth inning. The Bucco’s offense managed to steady the ship, however, slugging four home runs.

Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the second with three two-out singles: Oneil Cruz began the rally and Kevin Newman brought him home.

Ke’Bryan Hayes led off the third with a double. He advanced on a groundout, before scoring on a passed ball by catcher Pedro Severino.

Center fielder Jonathan Davis singled and stole second base in the bottom of the inning, taking third as catcher Jason Delay sailed his throw into center field. After a walk and two singles, Milwaukee tied the game at two.

Ke’Bryan Hayes. Send tweet. pic.twitter.com/FpMhyDDp8q

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 10, 2022

The Pirates took a 3-2 lead in the fifth with a Ke’Bryan Hayes home run to the opposite field.

Quintana allowed a pair of doubles in the home half of the inning, wrapped around a 12-pitch strikeout of former Pirate Andrew McCutchen. 

Third baseman Mike Brousseau singled to put runners at the corners as a shallow fly ball—ruled a hit—glanced off Newman’s glove, and manager Derek Shelton replaced Quintana with Chris Stratton.

A Luis Urias sacrifice fly gave Milwaukee a 4-3 lead, before a called strike three ended the inning.

The Pirates reclaimed the lead in the sixth, courtesy of solo shots by Michael Chavis and Cruz.

Michael mashes. pic.twitter.com/6sznaFu7nL

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 10, 2022

Cruz Missile!!! pic.twitter.com/jl59iPrelo

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 10, 2022

The Brewers threatened to draw even again with a leadoff double, but Shelton subbed Stratton for Manny Banuelos, who retired the side and recorded two strikeouts.

Big Dan, Big Fly pic.twitter.com/QGZFwjrpLB

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 10, 2022

Daniel Vogelbach ended up playing the hero, however, with a two-out homer that scored three insurance runs in the ninth, runs that came up crucial as McCutchen hit a two-run shot of his own off David Bednar.

The Pirates’ road trip continues on Monday, July 11, as they open a series against Miami.