Pirates 6, Brewers 3: A long stretch of games and an early-morning arrival lead to a rough loss

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

PITTSBURGH - Until showing some life in the final inning, the Milwaukee Brewers played like a tired team Thursday night.

The listless Brewers had good reason to look weary in falling to Pittsburgh, 6-3, at PNC Park. After losing in 12 innings the previous evening in Miami, the team didn’t get to their hotel here until nearly 5 a.m.

The Brewers also were playing on their 17th consecutive day, with three more to go – including a doubleheader Saturday – before finally hitting the all-star break. They knew this would be a grueling stretch and had done quite well until this final first-half trip, which has resulted in three losses in the first four games against losing reams.

Left-hander Wade Miley came off a two-month stay on the disabled list with an oblique strain to pitch in the majors for the first time since May 8, and his main issue was walking batters and pitching to No. 8 hitter Jordy Mercer.

BOX SCORE: Pirates 6, Brewers 3

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With a runner on and two down in the second inning, Miley walked Josh Harrison, setting up an RBI single to left by Mercer that put the Pirates on top, 1-0.

Jesús Aguilar, who has carried the Brewers' offense, struck again in the fourth, tying the game with his league-leading 24th homer – a monstrous blast to left-center, the deepest part of the ballpark.

But Miley hurt himself again in the fourth by issuing two-out walks to Josh Bell and Harrison, setting the stage for another run-scoring single by Mercer – a liner off the glove of leaping shortstop Tyler Saladino.

The Brewers had a prime opportunity to tie the score in the fifth when Saladino drew a leadoff walk and raced to third on a single by Erik Kratz. Miley struck out, not unexpected for a pitcher, but so did Thames and Cain, failing to produce a run despite having a man on third with no outs. It was Cain’s third strikeout in three at-bats.

Miley departed after five innings but Mercer continued to torment the Brewers. With two on and no outs in the sixth, Mercer was trying to sacrifice but after reliever Adrian Houser uncorked a wild pitch, Mercer swung away and singled in both runners to make it 4-1.

Down, 6-1, in the ninth, the Brewers did make things interesting, forcing the Pirates to summon closer Felipe Vazquez with a run in, the bases loaded and one down. Christian Yelich singled in a run but Aguilar grounded into a double play to end the game.

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

SHAW PLAYS ON SORE ANKLE: Third baseman Travis Shaw was in the lineup despite rolling his right ankle trying to make a charging play that resulted in an error Wednesday night in Miami. Shaw already has been playing with a sore right wrist. “I need Monday to get here,” Shaw said, referring to the four-day all-star break. Manager Craig Counsell said: “My concern was ‘are you going to be able to move laterally, defensively?’ He could be a little hampered on the bases but other than that, he’s fine.”

PIÑA TAKES STEP FORWARD: Catcher Manny Piña, on the DL with a left biceps strain, took some swings in the indoor batting cage for the first time since suffering the injury last weekend and was pleased with the results. “I took about 25 swings at about 60%,” he said. “It didn’t bother me. It was a good first step. I think I’ll be able to play after these four days and those four more days (at the break). I want to be ready for the first game (after the break). We are going in the right direction.”

ALBERS GETTING CLOSER: Reliever Matt Albers, on the DL since June 12 with shoulder inflammation, will throw his second bullpen session since the injury on Friday and if it goes well, perhaps another on Sunday. That schedule would get him ready to go out on minor-league rehab assignment some time next week. “We’ll try to push him forward a little bit and see what the results are,” Counsell said. “That would be three bullpens at that point, so we’re headed in the right direction there.”

A FIRST-TIME THIEF: Catcher Erik Kratz has played 248 major-league games for seven clubs over his long career but until Thursday night never had stolen a base. In fact, he never had attempted one. That changed when he swiped second base without a throw in the fifth inning as batter Eric Thames took a curveball from Taillon for strike three.

FINAL VOTE SUCCESS: Aguilar became the third Brewers player elected to the All-Star Game in the Final Vote by fans on Wednesday. Geoff Jenkins was added to the NL roster in 2003 by the fans and Corey Hart in 2008. The Final Vote was introduced in 2002.

RECORD

This year: 55-39

Last year: 52-42

COMING UP

Friday: Brewers at Pirates, 6:05 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Junior Guerra (6-5, 2.79) vs. Pittsburgh RHP Nick Kingham (3-4, 4.26). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.