Archer’s struggles continue as Bucs fall 7-4

A six spot in the bottom of the 3^rd inning proved to be more than enough run support for Milwaukee to cruise to a victory in Sunday’s rubber game.

Chris Archer’s struggles on the mound were amplified in that 3^rd inning after the ball escaped the grasp of Diaz and Marte on separate plays. If either player was able to hold on, Archer would’ve escaped the inning with minimal damage. That’s baseball.

Nevertheless, Archer got knocked around on his way to earning the loss in another four inning start. His final line was 4 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen pitched well the rest of the way when Kingham, Crick, and Rodriguez teamed up to deliver four innings of one hit baseball.

Here’s how the scoring went:

After a quite two innings, Lorenzo Cain led off the bottom of the 3^rd inning with a triple to right. After a Yelich strike out, Aguilar lined out to Polanco in right while Cain was tagging on the play. Polanco came up firing to the plate but Diaz couldn’t hold on while attempting to make the tag.

Now with two outs in the inning, Shaw hit a slicing line drive to left center field. Marte had a beat on it but could not hold onto the baseball while attempting the diving catch, allowing Shaw to reach second on the double. Braun followed it up by yanking a single to left, scoring Shaw on the play for Milwaukee’s second run of the game. Dickerson attempted to nab Shaw at the plate but delivered an errant throw, allowing Braun to reach third on the play. However, it didn’t matter much what bag Braun was standing on as Moustakas stepped in next and hit a two run bomb to right, putting the Brewers up 4-0.

Unfortunately, the hits kept coming. Jonathan Schoop singled to right and promptly scored on Manny Pina’s two run home run to right on what was Milwaukee’s 5^th consecutive hit. Archer would manage to strike out Chase Anderson to end the inning.

Pittsburgh finally got on the board in the 5^th when Moran delivered a two out single and scored on a double by Hechavarria.

The Pirates kept it going in the 6^th when their top of the lineup came up swinging. Marte led the inning off with a double and the scored on Frazier’s home run to right. Polanco followed it up with another solo shot but that would conclude the Pirates scoring on the day. Josh Hader entered the game and induced an inning ending double play, thanks in part to Cervelli’s wide slide into second base.

The Brewers would add an insurance run in their half of the 6^th inning on a solo home run by Schoop but that would prove to be it for either team.

Pittsburgh had an opportunity to strike again in the 8^th inning thanks to a couple of errant throws by Milwaukee. Marte led the inning off by hitting a chopper to second base. Jonathan Schoop fielded the ball and sailed the throw to first base. Frazier and Polanco made two quick outs but Cervelli stepped in and hit a chopper to short stop. Orlando Arcia fielded the ball cleanly but sailed the throw, allowing Cervelli to reach first and leaving runners at the corners. Dickerson stepped to the plate next and hit a rocket up the middle. Soria was able to knock it down in self defense and get Dickerson out at first.

Jeremy Jeffress would enter the game in the 9^th, executing the save and earning the Brewers the series victory.

Final Score: Brewers 7, Pirates 4

W: Anderson (9-7) L: Archer (4-7) SV: Jeffress (7)

Pittsburgh will get the day off tomorrow before opening up a series in St Louis.