The Pirates were held to four hits against Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo in his seven innings of work, but a three-run home run by Russell Martin against Milwaukee reliever Jonathan Broxton in the eighth helped the Bucs pull of a 4-2 win in front of a playoff atmosphere at PNC Park on Friday night.
The Brewers (79-75) were rolling along behind Gallardo after scoring twice off of Pirates starter Jeff Locke. Ryan Braun hit a one-out hustle double in the first and scored on a Jonathan Lucroy RBI single. Rickie Weeks later hit a fifth inning solo home run into the Brewers bullpen to extend the lead to 2-0.
Locke went seven innings while allowing the two runs to keep the Pirates within reach while allowing only five hits and striking out three.
“I really didn’t have a feel for my changeup. Probably because of the hit I gave up to Lucroy, ” said Locke. “My fastball was good. It was down most of the time and the curveball really didn’t have much play tonight. On the Weeks homer, the ball was middle-in. It was something he probably likes to get extended on.”
It looked as if it would be enough as the Pirates (83-70) had no answer for Gallardo, who went seven shutout innings while striking out 12. The only thing the Pirates did have going in their favor was a high pitch count that knocked the Brewers starter out of the game after seven innings.
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke went to Broxton for the eighth and the Pirates took advantage. Starling Marte hit a leadoff infield single and Neil Walker moved him to second with a one-out hit.
Russell Martin then came up and provided the biggest blow of the season, thus far, sending a 1-1 fastball into the right-center field seats sending the 37,924 in attendance into a frenzy that rivaled last year’s Wild Card game.
“I enjoy those situations. It’s energy. It’s exciting,” said Martin of the opportunity in the eighth.
“My first couple swings didn’t look too good, but then he threw a fastball out over the plate and I love fastballs,” said Martin. “I put a good swing on one and the crowd kind of helped it leave. They were chanting for it to go and the vibrations carried it out.”
Ike Davis added an insurance run with a RBI single later in the inning off of Jeremy Jeffress to make it 4-2.
Mark Melancon worked a perfect ninth for his 31st save of the year and John Holdzkom locked up his first career Major League victory with a scoreless eighth.
Final Score: Pirates 4, Brewers 2.
Starters Lines
Locke (ND): 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 K’s, 1 WP, 2 HBP, 1 HR. 82 Pitches (58 Strikes).
Gallardo (ND): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 IBB, 11 K’s 1 WP. 112 Pitches (78 Strikes).
The Pirates are now 4 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the final Wild Card spot going into tomorrow night’s second game of the three-game set.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(RHP) Edinson Volquez (PIT): 12-7, 3.27 ERA
(RHP) Matt Garza (MIL): 8-8, 3.74 ERA
First pitch is set for 7:05.
(Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar)
