McCutchen knocks in 3 as Pirates edge Brewers
MILWAUKEE -- Andrew McCutchen hit his 18th home run of the season and drove in two more runs with RBI singles, including the go-ahead score in the 10th inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2.
The Pirates snapped a nine-game losing streak in games at Miller Park.
The Brewers had their four-game winning streak snapped. Milwaukee hasn't won five games in a row since Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2015.
McCutchen's three-hit game was his first since July 27. He was the only Pittsburgh player to finish with multiple hits, though first baseman Josh Bell drew three walks in four plate appearances.
Leading off the Pittsburgh 10th, pinch hitter John Jaso singled off Carlos Torres (2-3). Josh Harrison sacrificed Jaso to second, and Jaso moved to third on a Starling Marte groundout. McCutchen's base hit to right knocked in the decisive run.
Antonio Bastardo (2-0) stranded the winning run at second during a scoreless ninth. Tony Watson worked a perfect 10th for his eighth save.
Wily Peralta went five innings for Milwaukee, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Pittsburgh rookie Chad Kuhl worked 6 1/3 innings and held Milwaukee to two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five.
He had only allowed three baserunners when Chris Carter reached on a one-out double in the seventh. Kirk Nieuwenhuis followed with a home run to tie the game at 2, and after Orlando Arcia doubled, Kuhl gave way to the bullpen.
In the first inning, Harrison's leadoff single was wiped out when he tried to steal on a Marte strikeout, but McCutchen gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead when he pulled 3-2 slider to left for a homer.
McCutchen doubled the lead in the third with an RBI single, scoring Marte.
NOTES: Pittsburgh kicked off a stretch of 17 consecutive games against NL Central opponents. In all, 31 of the Pirates' last 38 games will come against division foes. ... Brewers INF Will Middlebrooks went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Wednesday as he began a rehab assignment with Class A Wisconsin. Middlebrooks is working his way back from a right leg strain that has sidelined him since July 25. ... Miller Park has not been kind to the Pirates. They are 18-64 in Milwaukee since the start of the 2007 season. During that same span, Pittsburgh is 57-103 against the Brewers overall.