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Win: Francisco Liriano (7-3)
Loss: Donovan Hand (0-1)
Save: Jason Grilli (27)
HR: Alvarez (20), Jones (7)
MVP: Carlos Gomez (.170 WPA)
LVP: Jonathan Lucroy (-.263 WPA)
Fangraphs Win Expectancy Graph
Outside of two mistake pitches, Donovan Hand had a pretty successful second start. He allowed five hits over five innings. Unfortunately, both his big mistakes resulted in home runs, one of which was absolutely crushed by Pedro Alvarez.
That was enough for the Pirates as the Brewers bats couldn't get going. To be fair, Milwaukee did outhit Pittsburgh 7-6. They just couldn't score many runs off those hits. Milwaukee's lone run came in the sixth inning. Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez each singled and Yuniesky Betancourt drove in Gomez with a two-out single of his own. Sean Halton flew out to end the inning with runners on the corners.
The Brewers never threatened after that. In fact, they threatened so little that they made four outs in the eighth inning. Carlos Gomez struck out during that frame, but negated the out by reaching first on a wild pitch.
Milwaukee did have an opportunity to score earlier in the game when Carlos Gomez led off the fourth inning with a triple. But the contact play did the Brewers in as Jonathan Lucroy hit a chopper to Pirates second baseman Niel Walker, who pegged out Gomez at home easily.
Gomez was the only player from either team to reach base safely multiple times. Rickie Weeks drew the only walk in the game.
The Brewers and Pirates play one more tomorrow. I miss the Brewers-Pirates games of the last few years.