Ortiz Finishes Strong, Peguero Comes Out Hot as Pirates Defeat Brewers

PITTSBURGH – Luis Ortiz shined in his final start of the 2024 and Liover Peguero came through in his season debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on Wednesday. 

Recap

Ortiz left a sinker up in the zone on his first offering to Jake Bauers, and the Brewers designated hitter connected on a solo home run to right-center to break a scoreless-tie in the second. 

It was all the Brewers (90-68) managed against Ortiz (7-6) in seven-strong innings. The Pirates’ right-hander allowed four hits, walked one and punched out five. Ortiz ends the year with a 3.32 ERA, a major improvement from his 4.78 ERA in 2023. 

The score stayed there until the bottom of the fifth when Liover Peguero ripped a two-run two-out double into the left-center gap to put the Pirates (74-84) up 2-1. Brewers starter Freddy Peralta retired the first two batters of the inning – and 14 of the first 15, for that matter – before back-to-back walks to Yamani Grandal and Nick Yorke. 

Dennis Santana and Aroldis Chapman covered the final two innings with the latter converting his 12th save of the season. Chapman recorded a strikeout of pinch-hitter Blake Perkins on a 104 mph fastball. With the punch out, Chapman set the franchise-record for strikeouts in a season by a reliever with 95. 

Willy Adames ripped a single to left field with two outs in the ninth and tried to advance to second after a Bryan Reynolds bobble, but Reynolds fired the ball to second baseman Nick Gonzales, who applied the tag for the final out.

Key Moment

Peguero’s clutch double exploded off his bat at 104.9 mph. He was fired up on second base after giving his team the lead.

LIOVER PEGUERO IS BACK!!

2-RBI DOUBLE TO GIVE THE PIRATES THE LEAD

104.9 MPH exit velocity, .740 xBA pic.twitter.com/BX8Ay7ibSE

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) September 26, 2024

Star of the Game

Ortiz’s final start of the year was a fitting end to a really good year. Outside of Paul Skenes, he’s been arguably the Pirates’ top pitcher this season. 

Stat to Know

Ortiz’s seven innings matched a season-high. He also pitched seven against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 20. That start and his outing on Wednesday night were the only two times this season he pitched into the seventh. 

Noteworthy

• Dating back to last season, Peguero has a four-game hitting streak and has hit safely in four of his last five games with the Pirates. He finished 2023 with four hits in his last 11 at-bats.

Up Next

The Pirates will wrap up their 2024 home slate behind Mitch Keller (11-11, 4.21 ERA) on Thursday afternoon. Aaron Civale (7-9, 4.53 ERA) will start for the Brewers. First pitch: 12:35 ET.