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WP: Blaine Boyer (2-3)
LP: Jameson Taillon (3-4)
SV: Tyler Thornburg (7)
HR: None
It wasn’t the cleanest shutout ever, but the Brewers pitching staff got the job done on Friday night, allowing a lone run to be enough for the offense.
In Junior Guerra’s first start off the DL, he had some rust to shake off. Guerra allowed five hits and two walks in 3.1 innings, allowing baserunners in each of the four innings he pitched in. However, he did not allow a run, though came out of the game at 70 pitches (likely on a pitch limit in his first game back).
That turned the game over to a series of six relievers to finish up. First up was Jacob Barnes, fresh off the DL. Barnes showed no issues as he retired the two batters he faced, striking out one of them. Blaine Boyer took the fifth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, and Jhan Marinez did the same in the sixth.
The Brewers bullpen needed to be strong in this game because the Pirates pitching staff was just as tough. Jameson Taillon allowed just three hits in the game, but a lone run ended up being his downfall. He started out the sixth by hitting Martin Maldonado with a pitch, and Maldonado advanced to second on a groundout. Scooter Gennett then drove him home with an RBI double to give the Brewers their 1-0 lead. The offense was held in check after that, as Felipe Rivero, Antonio Bastardo, and Juan Nicasio combined to allow four walks and no hits in three innings.
With a 1-0 lead, the Brewers bullpen made sure it would hold up. Carlos Torres allowed just one walk in his inning of work in the seventh. Corey Knebel ran into some trouble in the eighth, allowing two singles. It was almost worse as a throwing error allowed Josh Harrison to get to second, but he was thrown out attempting to take third with a nice play from Hernan Perez (who got the start at first base) to Jonathan Villar. Tyler Thornburg worked the eighth, allowed one walk, but nothing else beyond that, to record the save.
The series in Pittsburgh continues Saturday night. Jimmy Nelson faces Ivan Nova in game two of the series. First pitch is at 6:05 pm.