The Pirates got on the board first scoring in the top of the first inning, but the Brewers responded right back in the bottom half with four runs that included a 3-run homer from Hernan Perez.
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Milwaukee Brewers’ Jonathan Villar hits a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in Milwaukee.
Pittsburgh scored five runs in the fourth against Jimmy Nelson to take a 6-5 lead. When healthy, he is one of the most unsafe players in the lineup.
Julio Urias allowed one run over six innings, Corey Seager set a Dodgers franchise record for a shortstop with his 23rd home run and Los Angeles beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Saturday to even the series between NL division leaders at Los Angeles.
“Our only hits were with two outs in the inning and we didn’t have a hit with men on bases at all today”, Counsell said. “It was a quiet day offensively, for sure”.
Milwaukee has lost 10 of its last 14, but this four-game sweep was particularly painful.
Nova’s premature exit – 75 pitches through six innings – was due to discomfort in his hamstring, though he plans to not miss his next start.
If Cole checks out all right in his Sunday examination, and they can continue to get timely performances from their hitters, the Pirates could be playing in the postseason for the fourth consecutive season. Starling Marte added an insurance run when he homered off Carlos Torres in the eighth. Polanco didn’t start in order to get rest.
Polanco doubled off reliever Blaine Boyer (1-3) with one-out in the sixth, giving the Pirates a 9-6 lead that stood.
Reds starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani tossed a complete-game shutout in a 13-0 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. “It’s tough to face those guys”.
Through five innings, the starting pitchers matched zeroes, allowing three hits and no runs. Villar, who has 50 steals, is still working on the glove at third.
“I was trying not to think about it”, said Nova, who was pulled as a precaution. “It was my first time experiencing something like that. I chose to tell the manager”.
The 22-year-old Venezuelan made his major-league debut just weeks ago following a noteworthy start to the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs.
“He came in on a pretty good role”, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “We were very pleased with that effort”.
Pirates 3B Adam Frazier was optioned to Single-A Bristol before the game and RHP A.J. Schugel was recalled. Barring setback, his next start will be for the Brewers.
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Pirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) was scheduled to make his next rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Indianapolis. He has a 2.48 ERA in five August starts.
