Colin Moran hit an early three-run homer, then had an RBI double in the 10th inning that sent the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Sunday.
The Pirates withstood a two-homer performance from Milwaukee’s Daniel Vogelbach to win the deciding game of this series. Pittsburgh has won two of three in each of its last three series to recover from an early six-game skid.
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Colin Moran hit an early three-run homer, then had an RBI double in the 10th inning that sent the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Sunday.
Moran hit a leadoff double off J.P. Feyereisen (0-1) to bring home automatic runner Bryan Reynolds from second base.
This back-and-forth game featured two-run homers from each team in the seventh.
Pittsburgh’s bullpen had thrown 11 1/3 straight scoreless innings and had allowed just one run in its last 25 innings before Vogelbach’s drive.
Kuhl entered the day with a 4-0 career record and 1.78 ERA against the Brewers. He wasn’t quite as sharp Sunday as each of the two starting pitchers – Kuhl and Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta – allowed three runs over five innings.
Brewers: Hitting coach Andy Haines acknowledged OF Christian Yelich is frustrated to be missing this much time early in the season. Yelich went on the injured list Saturday and has missed six straight games with a lower back strain.
The Pirates are off Monday before opening a three-game series at Detroit on Tuesday. Scheduled starters are LHP Tyler Anderson (1-2, 4.02 ERA) for the Pirates and RHP Michael Fulmer (1-0, 3.00) for the Tigers.
Pittsburgh's Bryan Reynolds and Milwaukee's Avisaíl García also homered.
Milwaukee Brewers' Daniel Vogelbach is congratulated by Avisail Garcia after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
Moran hit a leadoff double off J.P. Feyereisen (0-1) to bring home automatic runner Bryan Reynolds from second base.
Richard Rodríguez (1-0) earned the win with two innings of perfect relief. Rodríguez has allowed one hit, one walk and no runs in 6 1/3 innings this season.
With Jackie Bradley Jr. on second to start the bottom of the 10th, Rodríguez retired Vogelbach and Garcia on a pair of flyballs before striking out Travis Shaw to seal the victory.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Kyle Crick throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
This back-and-forth game featured two-run homers from each team in the seventh.
Reynolds hit a 3-2 pitch from Brad Boxberger into the back rows of the second deck of the right-field stands to break a 3-all tie in the top half of the inning. Reynolds’ 436-foot drive also scored Adam Frazier, who had led off the inning with a bloop single.
The Brewers tied it back up in the bottom of the seventh. After Bradley reached on a one-out bunt single, Vogelbach homered off Chris Stratton.
Milwaukee Brewers' Billy McKinney reacts in frot of Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Michael Perez after flying out during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
Pittsburgh’s bullpen had thrown 11 1/3 straight scoreless innings and had allowed just one run in its last 25 innings before Vogelbach’s drive.
Vogelbach also had a solo homer that helped the Brewers take a 2-0 lead in the first. Moran’s three-run homer in the top of the third put the Pirates back in front, but García tied it with a solo shot in the bottom of the third.
Pittsburgh has now won all eight of Chad Kuhl’s career starts against the Brewers.
Milwaukee Brewers' Josh Hader throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
Kuhl entered the day with a 4-0 career record and 1.78 ERA against the Brewers. He wasn’t quite as sharp Sunday as each of the two starting pitchers – Kuhl and Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta – allowed three runs over five innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Cody Ponce was reinstated from the injured list and optioned to the Pirates’ alternate training site in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Milwaukee Brewers' Devin Williams throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
Brewers: Hitting coach Andy Haines acknowledged OF Christian Yelich is frustrated to be missing this much time early in the season. Yelich went on the injured list Saturday and has missed six straight games with a lower back strain.
“Christian’s a guy that takes so much pride in playing every day,” Haines said. “He does not want to sit. He just never wants a day off. He knows the responsibility he has to people paying to watch him play and to the organization. He takes that as serious as anyone can take it. So I know he’ll play it off a little bit, but I know deep down it hurts him, man.”
UP NEXT
Milwaukee Brewers' Daniel Vogelbach hits a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
The Pirates are off Monday before opening a three-game series at Detroit on Tuesday. Scheduled starters are LHP Tyler Anderson (1-2, 4.02 ERA) for the Pirates and RHP Michael Fulmer (1-0, 3.00) for the Tigers.
The Brewers open a six-game trip Monday at San Diego. RHP Brandon Woodruff (0-0, 2.12) pitches for the Brewers and RHP Joe Musgrove (2-1, 0.47) starts for the Padres.
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Milwaukee Brewers' Daniel Vogelbach reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP PhotoMorry Gash)
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