Brewers extend win streak to three
PITTSBURGH -- Chris Carter drove in three runs, including a two-run homer, and the Milwaukee Brewers scored four runs in the eighth inning Saturday night in a 7-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
The Brewers have won three games in a row. The Pirates have lost five in a row and failed to take advantage of a St. Louis loss, remaining 2 1/2 games out of a National League wild-card spot.
Neither starter got a decision. Milwaukee's Jimmy Nelson allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Pittsburgh's Ivan Nova gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.
Carlos Torres (3-3) pitched the seventh and got the win. Neftali Feliz (4-2) gave up two runs in a third of an inning in the eight before leaving with an injury and took the loss.
Tyler Thornburg pitched the ninth for his eighth save of the season.
Milwaukee used seven pitchers for the second night in a row.
On Friday, the seven combined for a shutout in a 1-0 win.On Saturday, the Brewers overcame an early one-run deficit and broke out of a 2-2 tie.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Josh Harrison singled up the middle, followed by a walk to Josh Bell. They advanced when Andrew McCutchen grounded to second on a play where Bell pulled up in the bases and second baseman Scooter Gennett did not throw to second or tag Bell. Gregory Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Harrison.
In the sixth, Gennett led off with a double to the gap in right center. Two outs later, Carter sent Nova's first pitch to him into the left-field stands for a 2-1 Brewers lead.
Milwaukee threatened to add to its lead in the seventh. Orlando Arcia led off with a double and stole second. Martin Maldonado's bunt moved Arcia to third. After pinch-hitter Domingo Santana walked, Keon Broxton hit what was ruled a single because when catcher Francisco Cervelli fielded the ball in front of the plate, no one was covering first and two fielders were covering second. That loaded the bases, but reliever Jared Hughes got Gennett to ground into a double play to end the inning.
McCutchen made the Brewers pay for not scoring on that opportunity when he hit his 19th homer of the season, a two-out shot to right center, in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score 2-2.
With one out and Milwaukee runners on the corners in the eighth, Pittsburgh reliever Neftali Feliz left the game because of right arm discomfort after apparently injuring himself on a pitch.
Felipe Rivero came in to replace Feliz. He walked pinch-hitter Jake Elmore to load the bases, then gave up a single to Arcia that drove in Hernan Perez for a 3-2 Brewers lead.
After Maldonado struck out, pinch-hitter Manny Pena drove in two more with a single to left for a 5-2 lead.
Broxton -- facing the third Pirates pitcher of the inning, Kelvin Marte, who was making his big-league debut -- drove in another with a single up the middle for a 6-3 lead.
The Brewers sent 10 men to the plate in the eighth.
Starling Marte led off the bottom of the eighth with a 434-foot homer to the shrubbery in center, drawing the Pirates to within 6-3. Later that inning, pinch-hitter John Jaso hit an RBI single up the middle to make it 6-4.
Milwaukee tacked on a run in the ninth on Carter's one-out RBI single after Perez led off with a triple, making it 7-4.
NOTES: Milwaukee 3B Jonathan Villar was not in the lineup. Manager Craig Counsell said Villar has a sore knee and is day to day. ... The Brewers activated RHP Michael Blazek (right forearm strain) from the disabled list. ... Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (right elbow inflammation) threw 30 fastballs from the mound and is likely to have another bullpen session Monday or Tuesday. ... Pittsburgh used the same lineup as Friday. ... CF Keon Braxton and 1B Chris Carter started for the Brewers. They were not in Friday's lineup. ... Milwaukee used seven pitchers Friday in a 1-0 win in the series opener. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that was the third time in major league history that a team used seven or more pitchers in a 1-0 win of nine innings or fewer, and the second time by the Brewers against Pittsburgh. Milwaukee also used seven pitchers on Sept. 20, 2014, in a 1-0 win over the Pirates. The Mets used seven pitchers in a 1-0 win over Washington on Oct. 4, 2015. ... The Pirates honored their 1971 World Series championship team before the game and wore throwback uniforms.