Brewers 7, Pirates 3

W: Claudio Vargas (1-0) - first win at any level since August 3, 2008
L: Kevin Hart (4-4)

MVP: Craig Counsell (+.180)
LVP: Yovani Gallardo (-.164)

Win Expectancy Graph
SB Nation Coverage

The Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the third inning as Pirates starter Kevin Hart lost all command on the mound. Two hits, two batters hit by pitches, and a bases loaded walk did the damage. The Pirates answered back in the fifth as Kevin Hart, who settled down after the third, drew a leadoff walk and came around to score. Andy LaRoche's two-run home run later that inning put Pittsburgh up 3-2. The Brewers tied it in the bottom of the inning when Felipe Lopez scored on a Ryan Braun double play.

Claudio Vargas threw a scoreless sixth inning. The Brewers scored two runs with two out in the bottom of the sixth on the following run-manufacturer's dream sequence:

Kendall single to right
Kendall delayed steal of second (turned wild pitch, turned stolen base)
Escobar single to short, Kendall to third
Gerut pinch-hit double, Kendall scores, Escobar to third
Wild pitch, Escobar scores, Gerut to third
Lopez fly out to center

Dave Weathers and Todd Coffey pitched scoreless innings in the 7th and 8th, respectively, while the Brewers tacked on one run in the bottom half of each frame. Carlos Villanueva pitched the final inning to close out the victory.

Craig Counsell went 3 for 4 with a triple, his eighth of the year. Jason Kendall and Alcides Escobar were both 2 for 3. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder combined to go 0 for 5, though each reached base one time.