Santana's HR lifts Brewers over Pirates 1-0
PITTSBURGH -- On a night where offense was hard to find, Domingo Santana's solo home run held up as the Milwaukee Brewers eked out a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
Santana's solo shot, his 26th of the season, just cleared the short wall near the left field foul pole in the fourth inning. It traveled only 338 feet and was the only damage the Brewers could muster against Pirates starter Trevor Williams (6-9).
Chase Anderson (11-3), Anthony Swarzak and Corey Knebel combined for the Brewers' 12th shutout of the season and second on consecutive nights as Milwaukee took the series from the Pirates. Knebel earned his 37th save.
Williams struck out six, walked two and allowed three hits in five innings. Only in the second inning did the Brewers threaten against him, when Orlando Arcia and Brett Phillips singled, but Williams struck out Anderson.
Ryan Braun went 2-for-3 with a walk, and Santana had two hits.
Anderson did his part to keep the Pirates off the board, striking out eight in six innings while giving up five hits and no walks. The Pirates had men in scoring position in the first and sixth innings but couldn't capitalize.
The Brewers held serve with the Chicago Cubs to remain 3 1/2 games back in the NL Central.
Pittsburgh has lost seven straight games, scoring nine runs in that span. The Pirates have dropped 12 of their past 13 contests.
NOTES: Pirates OF Starling Marte returned to the lineup after missing four games with finger and shoulder injuries suffered while sliding into second base against Milwaukee on Sept. 13. He went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. ... Pittsburgh RHP Ivan Nova (calf discomfort) will make his next scheduled start Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals. ... Brewers RHP Jimmy Nelson had surgery on his injured shoulder Tuesday. The team does not have a firm time frame for his return. ... Milwaukee RHP Aaron Wilkerson will make first major league start as a fill-in Wednesday. He will oppose Pirates LHP Steven Brault.