Brewers fall victim to Pirates comeback, lose 8-6

W: Geoff Hartlieb
L: Bobby Wahl

HR: Keston Hiura (1), Adam Frazier (1)

A day after a four+ run comeback of their own, the Milwaukee Brewers gave up a four-run lead and lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-6.

Josh Lindblom started the game for Milwaukee, but would end up leaving the game in the fourth inning due to back cramps. Before the injury forced him off the mound, Lindblom was impressive. His only issue came in the second inning when runners made it to the corners with no one out. Lindblom struck out the next three hitters to leave the runners stranded.

Things took a turn for Lindblom in the fourth inning. After getting Josh Bell to lead off with a ground out, Lindblom gave up a walk, double, walk, showing obvious discomfort on the mound. Guillermo Heredia would single in two of the runners. After striking out Cole Tucker, Lindblom walked off with the trainer and Eric Yardley replaced him, limiting the damage to two runs.

Milwaukee wouldn’t answer the runs until the sixth inning. With on out and Lorenzo Cain aboard, Keston Hiura hit a deep home run to left center to tie the game.

In the seventh inning, Milwaukee took the lead on four consecutive no-out walks. Orlando Arcia then doubled with the bases loaded, making it a 5-2 game. A Keston Hiura sac fly drove in the sixth and Milwaukee’s final run before Christian Yelich ended the high-scoring inning with a strikeout.

Things got messy for Milwaukee in the bottom of that inning. Brent Suter immediately loaded the bases, allowing two singles and a walk. The Pirates then walked in a run with no outs. The inning stayed alive thanks to a Justin Smoak throwing error that allowed two Pirates to score and bring the game to within a run. Corey Knebel replaced Suter to hopefully keep the lead. After a strikeout for the second out, Phillip Evans hit a double that would get the game-tying run across the plate. Knebel struck out the next better to limit the damage.

Bobby Wahl came out for Milwaukee in the bottom of the eighth. He gave up a lead off double to Cole Tucker before Adam Frazier hit a deep home run to right field and gave Pittsburgh an 8-6 lead.

The Brewers could only get three batters to the plate against new Pirates closer Nick Burdi. The flame thrower walked Manny Pina, but struck out Ben Gamel and caused Lorenzo Cain to bounce into a game-ending double play.

The series concludes tomorrow with Brandon Woodruff (0-1, 3.60 ERA) taking on John Musgrove (0-1, 4.76 ERA). First pitch is at 6:05 p.m.