Joey Ortiz drove in three runs to help the visiting Milwaukee Brewers earn a 7-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.
Willy Adames had two hits, two runs and an RBI, Jackson Chourio contributed two hits and a run and Sal Frelick added two RBIs for the Brewers (90-67), who have won two in a row following a three-game skid.
Milwaukee right-hander Tobias Myers was limited to 49 pitches in what was likely his final start before the playoffs. He allowed two runs and six hits in four innings, striking out two without issuing a walk.
Hoby Milner (5-1), Colin Rea, Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps and Joe Ross combined for five shutout innings of relief for the National League Central champions.
Pirates starter Bailey Falter (8-9) surrendered four runs and five hits in five innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked one.
Jared Triolo had three hits and an RBI and Joey Bart had two hits and a run for Pittsburgh (73-84), which has dropped three of four.
Falter retired the first four batters he faced before Adames beat out an infield single with one out in the second and then stole his 20th base of the season. After a walk to Rhys Hoskins, Frelick drove in Adames with a double to right to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead.
Ortiz then came through with a two-run single to center to expand the lead to 3-0.
The Pirates came back with a leadoff single by Bart to start their half of the second. Bryan De La Cruz followed with a double to right, moving Bart to third. A single to center by Triolo cut the deficit to 3-1, and Nick Yorke lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring De La Cruz to make it 3-2.
Ortiz hit a grounder to first baseman Billy Cook with runners on the corners and one out in the fourth, but Cook’s throw to second was wide, allowing Adames to score for a 4-2 lead.
Adames and Hoskins drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks in the seventh to stretch the lead, and Frelick followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-2.
–Field Level Media
