Big inning leads Brewers past Pirates, 8-2

W: Chris Narveson (2-3)
L: Jeff Karstens (2-2)

HR: Prince Fielder (9), Brandon Boggs (2), Ryan Braun (11), Lyle Overbay (3)

MVP: Chris Narveson (+.263 pitching, -.61 hitting for +.202)
LVP: Jonathan Lucroy (-.198)

Win Expectancy Graph and Star of the Game Voting

The Brewers offense exploded for five seventh inning runs to take their second game in as many days from the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-2. After threatening to score in numerous innings, Milwaukee finally broke through with a big seventh inning to earn Chris Narveson his second win of the season on Saturday night. The Brewers are now 2-6 in games that Narveson has started this year.

For the first four innings of the game, Narveson was locked up in a pitcher’s duel with Jeff Karstens. Despite having runners in scoring position in the first and second innings, the Brewers didn’t get on the board until Prince Fielder launched a solo shot the fourth inning. Brandon Boggs, getting the start in center field, followed two batters later with a solo shot of his own, to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead. Of Boggs’ three hits this year, two have been home runs.

The Pirates scored one run in the fifth inning and threatened in the sixth, but Narveson delivered a big strike out with two runners on to stop the rally. Milwaukee continued to flirt with disaster in the seventh as LaTroy Hawkins gave up a leadoff double to Andrew McCutchen and then walked Jose Tabata. Only a too-close-to-call double play that got Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle tossed could keep the Brewers narrow lead intact.

Fortunately the offense came through in the seventh inning to put an end to most of the drama. Corey Hart led off the inning with a pinch-hit double and came around to score after somehow inducing the Pirates into an error and the home plate umpire into a safe call. Fielder and Jonathan Lucroy would add run-scoring singles and Casey McGehee added a two-run double. After the dust had settled, Milwaukee had a 7-1 lead.

Mitch Stetter gave up a solo shot to Lyle Overbay in the eighth but Milwaukee got its lead back to six runs when Ryan Braun answered with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the inning.

The win was the Brewers fourth of their current home stand and gives them a 12-6 home record. Milwaukee has won its last eight meetings against Pittsburgh and 32 of the last 35 at Miller Park.