Offensive struggles continue as Brewers down Bucs 7-2

Not even the news of Adam Frazier starting in the All-Star Game motivated the Pirates’ offense Thursday night, as they fell to Milwaukee, 7-2.

Wil Crowe struggled early on in the game as he surrendered a lead-off walk to Tyrone Taylor, and an RBI triple to Jace Peterson in the second inning. Jackie Bradley Jr. would bring Peterson in later in the inning on a double to right field.

The Pirates would come out strong in the bottom of the second after Jacob Stallings singled to open the frame, but as fate would have it, Stallings would be doubled up at first after Bradley caught a fly ball from Ben Gamel, then doubled him up on a throw to first.

Gamel, however, would make up for the fly out by hitting his third home run of the season in the fifth inning, getting the Pirates on the board.

Milwaukee answered right back in the sixth, posting two more runs on a single by Keston Hiura and a sacrifice fly by Peterson.

The wheels of the already dilapidated Pirates station wagon really came unraveled in the ninth as the Brewers posted three more runs off Richard Rodriguez. Omar Narvaez kicked off the scoring with an RBI double, and Taylor would bring him and Christian Yelich in on a single to right.

Pittsburgh tried for a comeback in the bottom of the ninth as Jacob Stallings drove in Ke’Bryan Hayes on a double, but Brewers reliever Alec Bettinger would force Gamel and Jared Oliva into the final two outs of the game, sealing the victory.

The Bright Side:

• Chris Stratton and Chasen Shreve continued to find success out of the bullpen. Stratton pitched a perfect inning, while Shreve lowered his ERA to 1.42.
• Adam Frazier went 1-for-4 in the game, raising his batting average (and trade value) to .326.

All Good Things Must End:

• Bryan Reynolds went 0-for-4 tonight, ending his modest 14-game hitting streak.
• Richard Rodriguez’s ERA this season moves to 2.59 after giving up the aforementioned three runs in the ninth.

The Bucs will try to turn their fortunes around tomorrow night against the Brew Crew, with J.T. Brubaker (4-7, 3.82 ERA) slated to pitch. Adrian Houser (4-5, 4.16) will oppose him. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.