Mercer, Vogelsong power Pirates past Brewers
MILWAUKEE -- Jordy Mercer hit his first career grand slam and Ryan Vogelsong struck out six as the Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Milwaukee Brewers a 5-3 loss Friday night at Miller Park.
Vogelsong (3-3), making his fifth start since coming off the disabled list, worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs, four hits and four walks. He's 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA in his last five starts against Milwaukee.
Brewers starter Matt Garza (4-6) went 5 1/3 innings and struck out a season-high nine batters but was doomed by a pair of errors by Jonathan Villar and an intentional walk that set up Mercer's blast in the sixth.
Andrew McCutchen opened the sixth by reaching on an throwing error by Villar and Gregory Polanco was safe at first when another Villar throw went past Chris Carter at first.
After Starling Marte doubled home McCutchen, Garza finally got an out when David Freese struck out. Garza intentionally walked Francisco Cervelli to load the bases for Mercer, who took an 0-2 slider at the knees to left center for his first career grand slam, chasing Garza.
Milwaukee had its chances against Volgelsong, putting two on in the second and loading the bases in the fourth. Both times, though, the potential rallies were snuffed out when Vogelsong struck out Garza.
The Brewers cut the deficit to 5-3 on one swing in the sixth when Orlando Arcia hit Jared Hughes' first offering to the bullpen in left field for his first career home run.
Milwaukee brought the winning run to the plate with two outs in the ninth but Domingo Santana popped out to second, clinching Tony Watson's ninth save of the season
NOTES: Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said he had not yet set his rotation for the upcoming series against the Cubs in Chicago. ... Pirates RHP Tyler Glasnow is scheduled to make another minor league rehab start Saturday for Double-A Altoona, where he will join C Chris Stewart, who has been out with a left knee injury since July 2. ... Brewers RHP Jacob Barnes was in Triple-A Colorado Springs Friday to start his minor league rehab assignment. ... Milwaukee relievers have allowed only two earned runs in their last 24 innings covering six games. ... Pittsburgh, which snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Brewers on Thursday, is 19-64 in Milwaukee since the start of 2007 and 58-103 overall against Milwaukee during that stretch.'