The Pirates managed six hits, just one with runners in scoring position, and couldn't catch the ball behind a strong Tyler Glasnow, failing to sweep the Brewers with a 6-2 loss on Sunday at PNC Park.
Glasnow had his second straight good start, with six strikeouts and two walks. In 6 1-3 innings he gave up six hits and four runs, three earned. About that -- John Jaso butchered Eric Thames' liner to right field, allowing the game's first run to be scored in the third, but that's an earned run, if you're concerned with that sort of thing.
Travis Shaw added a solo homer in the fourth -- nothing the D can do there -- but Phil Gosselin booted a grounder in the fifth, allowing a third Milwaukee run to score. One could even complain about the Brewers' fifth run -- perhaps a better right fielder would have gotten to Jesus Aguilar's fly before it dropped in (ending up a book-rule double, though Keon Broxton would have scored from second on any hit down the line).
A weak Sunday lineup for an already shorthanded Pirates team couldn't string anything together against Zach Davies. In the sixth, though, Jose Osuna drilled a changeup out to left for a two-run homer, his first in the majors.
Johnny Barbato relieved Glasnow with a couple solid innings until he served up taters to Aguilar and Thames in the ninth -- Josh Lindblom got the last out, making his Pirates debut.
The underrated Corey Knebel blew through the Pirates in the eighth. Former Pirate Neftali Feliz gave up a hit an a walk in the ninth, but held his four-run lead.
Gregory Polanco got on base all four times, with a double before Osuna's homer along with two walks. Polanco and Osuna were the only two Pirates to reach base more than once.