Eduardo Escobar dazzles as Brewers defeat Pirates 6-2

Box Score

The Brewers are back home after they made their trade deadline pickups. With Eduardo Escobar batting fourth, he was ready to show off to the home crowd.

The early game was more about the pitching, as both starters pitched well. Eric Lauer started for the Brewers, and while it wasn’t the nicest looking game, he was very effective. In five innings of work, he allowed just three hits and no runs. He did hit a batter with a pitch as well, but also struck out three and walked none in the start.

Meanwhile, Bryse Wilson started for the Pirates, who pitched five innings and allowed just one run. That run came in the third. Lorenzo Cain singled to start the inning, and Eric Lauer bunted him over third after Cain stole second. Lauer ended up reaching as well. Kolten Wong then put the Brewers on the board with a sacrifice fly, making it a 1-0 Brewers lead. Willy Adames did move Lauer up to second with a groundout (that was originally a double play but overturned on review), but Omar Narvaez flew out to end the inning.

Once it got to the bullpens, the Brewers offense took over. After a scoreless sixth from Brent Suter, the Brewers got something going with two outs as Omar Narvaez drew a walk off of Pirates reliever Kyle Keller. That ended up being cashed in quickly, with Eduardo Escobar hitting a triple down the right field line that scored Narvaez without a throw.

The Pirates then loaded the bases; Avisail Garcia went to first on a hit by pitch and stole second, then Rowdy Tellez was intentionally walked. Tyrone Taylor came up with two down and the bases loaded, and drew his own walk to score a run and give the Brewers a 3-0 lead. They couldn’t get closer as Lorenzo Cain flew out to end the inning.

Suter put up another scoreless inning in the seventh, and then the Brewers tacked on some more runs. Facing reliever Nick Mears, Wong singled with one out to put a runner on base. Narvaez then drew a walk with two outs, and a wild pitch moved Wong up to third. That set it up for Escobar, who brought them all in.

With the Brewers up 6-0, they went to Daniel Norris in the sixth. Norris walked a batter, but didn’t allow anything else as the game remained 6-0 after eight innings. John Axford came in for the ninth to finish up the game, but it did not go well. He started by hitting Bryan Reynolds with a pitch. After a line out from John Nogowski, Axford allowed singles to Jacob Stallings and Gregory Polanco, loading the bases. Pinch hitter Ben Gamel then came in, and Axford walked him on four straight balls, giving the Pirates their first run. With the game now in a save situation, Brad Boxberger came in to keep the Pirates in check. He got a fly out from Kevin Newman for the second out, but then walked Wilmer Difo on five pitches, cutting the lead to 6-2. However, he struck out Phillip Evans to end the game and preserve the 6-2 win.

Eduardo Escobar was the star by far as he was completely dominant. He went 2-for-2 with a triple and a home run, four RBI, and also drew two walks in his other two plate appearances. The Pirates did not get him out once tonight. Overall, the offense managed six hits, but also walked seven times compared to just three strikeouts during the night. Narvaez and Tellez also each reached base multiple times.

The series continues tomorrow night at Miller Park. Adrian Houser will face Max Kranick in the second game of the series. First pitch is at 7:10 pm and it will be on Bally Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.