Game Recap: Pirates vs. Brewers, 8/23/20

The Pirates knocked off the Brewers Sunday afternoon for the team’s first sweep of the season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates pursuit of their first sweep of the season was put on hold thanks to the rainy western Pennsylvania weather. On Sunday afternoon, the Pirates (6-17) and the Milwaukee Brewers (11-14) were scheduled to meet for a 1:35 first pitch matinee at PNC Park for the third and final game of the series. The start of the game was delayed for nearly an hour and a half, with the first pitch coming at 3:00 pm.

It was JT Brubaker (0-0) who took to the hill for Pittsburgh, while Corbin Burnes (0-0) got the nod for Milwaukee. Brubaker got through four innings before needing relief in the fifth, giving up four hits and two runs to go along with one walk and six strikeouts. Burnes pitched five innings, allowing four hits, two runs, walked two, and struck out seven.

On the first play of the game, Avisail Garcia hit a grounder to third baseman Erik Gonzalez, who threw the ball somewhat errantly to first baseman Colin Moran. Garcia collided with Moran at first, sending him to the ground. He was ultimately replaced in the top of the third inning. Going into the fourth, Kevin Newman was also replaced after some apparent discomfort resulting from a swing during his third inning strikeout.

Adam Frazier kicked off the scoring when he singled on a ground ball into right field, scoring Erik Gonzalez. An inning later, Jarrod Dyson lined a ball into left, which scored Gregory Polanco, putting the Pirates up 2-0.

It wasn’t until the fifth inning when Justin Smoak doubled in Keston Hiura to draw the Brewers within one. Omar Narvaez lined a ball deep into the right field corner, scoring Luis Urias, tying the game 2-2.

In the top of the sixth inning, Smoak homered (4) to left with a man on, pushing the Brewers ahead for the first time in the game, 4-2 — one run was charged as earned to Geoff Hartlieb, while the other went unearned.

Bryan Reynolds brought in a run in the sixth when he singled in JT Riddle, making it a 4-3 game. Gregory Polanco pulled the Pirates ahead in the bottom of the eighth inning when he homered (4) to center off David Phelps, bringing Cole Tucker along with him, and giving the Bucs a 5-4 lead.

The Pirates employed six pitchers en route to their victory, getting scoreless appearances from Sam Howard, Nik Turley, Chris Stratton, and Richard Rodriguez.

Chris Stratton (1-0) got the win, his first of the year. David Phelps (2-3) was tagged with the loss. Richard Rodriguez earned the save (1).

The Pirates (7-17) are off Monday, but will return Tuesday night when they’re in Chicago to take on the White Sox for two games.