Gary Sanchez socked a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the top of the eighth to lift the visiting Milwaukee Brewers to a 7-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
Rhys Hoskins went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and William Contreras went 2-for-4 with a home run to help the Brewers split the four-game series.
Jared Koenig (1-0) gave up two hits in the seventh inning for the win. Trevor Megill pitched a clean ninth for his first save.
Aroldis Chapman (0-2) allowed two runs on two hits in one inning.
Sanchez’s homer to right field off Chapman gave Milwaukee a 6-5 lead and Oliver Dunn’s single in the top of the ninth drove in Willy Adames to make it 7-5.
In the fifth inning, Contreras reached on a single to shallow right field and stole second. Hoskins doubled on a shot to left field that popped out of the glove of Jack Suwinski. Contreras scored on the play, putting Milwaukee ahead 4-3.
Joey Bart drew a two-out walk and then scored to tie it 4-4 on Suwinski’s double in the bottom of the fifth. Jared Triolo singled on a fly ball to right field, driving in Suwinski and giving Pittsburgh a 5-4 lead.
Contreras gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when he belted a homer to left off Pirates starter Mitch Keller.
In the bottom of the first, Bryan Reynolds singled and Rowdy Tellez drew a walk to bring up Bart, who cleared the bases with a 419-foot shot to center that put the hosts ahead 3-1.
The Brewers tied it 3-3 in the top of the third.
Sal Frelick and Contreras each drew walks to start the inning. After Adames struck out, Jake Bauers singled to right, bringing Frelick home to cut it to 3-2. Hoskins followed with a single off the glove of Reynolds in right field, scoring Contreras.
Brewers starter Freddy Peralta pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits, with five walks and five strikeouts.
Keller gave up four runs on six hits and fanned seven in five innings for the Pirates.
–Field Level Media
