Horwitz drives in 3 runs, Pirates defeat Brewers for the 6th time in 7 games this season

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Spencer Horwitz hit a three-run double and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended their dominance over the Brewers this season, beating Milwaukee 4-3 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Pittsburgh has won six of seven games against the NL Central-leading Brewers this season.

The Pirates jumped on Brewers starter Brandon Sproat (3-7) in the third. Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds singled and Esmerlyn Valdez walked. Horwitz followed with a bases-clearing double that staked Pittsburgh to a 3-0 lead.

The Pirates added a run in the fourth when Endy Rodriguez led off with a single and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches by Sproat, who was then replaced by Garrett Stallings, with Jacob Gonzalez still at-bat. Stallings eventually struck out Gonzalez before walking Henry Davis and giving up a soft bunt single to Jake Mangum that scored Rodriguez.

Pirates starter Bubba Chandler (4-8) held the Brewers without a hit until David Hamilton’s single up the middle with two outs in the fifth. Joey Ortiz followed with another base hit that drove in Jake Bauers, who had walked leading off the inning.

The Brewers cut the lead to 4-3 in the sixth, with one run scoring on Andrew Vaughn’s single and another on a throwing error, after which Chandler was lifted.

Mason Montgomery pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save in five tries.

Chandler allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Sproat gave up five hits and four runs in three innings. He struck out four, walked two and threw three wild pitches.

Before the game, the Pirates placed right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller on the 60-day injured list and recalled left-handed pitcher Brandon Eisesrt from Triple-A Indianapolis. Also, the Brewers designated RHP Carlos Rodriguez for assignment.

Pirates RHP Jared Jones (2-2, 3.81 ERA) will face Brewers RHP Logan Henderson (5-1, 2.66) on Tuesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Milwaukee Brewers' Jake Bauers, right, slides into home plate to score a run past Pittsburgh Pirates' Henry Davis during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Brandon Sproat pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Joey Ortiz hits an RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Bubba Chandler pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Spencer Horwitz hits a three-run double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — A judge in Honduras ruled Monday that former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who recently returned to the Central American country after a Trump pardon for drug trafficking charges in the U.S., will not be jailed during his trial for fraud and money laundering.

The case is being closely watched as a litmus test for the country’s justice system after critics say the former leader ruled with impunity for years.

Hernández, once considered an ally by the U.S. in the drug war, led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, during which he boasted that he would “shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos,” according to U.S. prosecutors.

He was extradited to the United States for his drug trafficking trial shortly after leaving office and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly pardoned him last year and backed his party's candidate for president, Nasry Asfura, who took office in January.

Hernández, 57, faces charges related to a case known as Pandora I, which alleges that a network of former high-ranking officials from 2010 to 2013 participated in the expansion and approval of public funds disbursements totaling more than $10.8 million, or around 288 million lempiras, to various foundations, according to an investigation by the country’s Specialized Prosecutor’s Unit Against Corruption Networks, or UFERCO.

According to UFERCO, Hernández benefited from these disbursements, receiving at least $2.3 million, around 62 million lempiras, for his political campaign through various schemes, including the creation of shell companies, the use of straw men and fictitious contracts.

Other high-level officials implicated in Pandora I whose cases have been dismissed indicate the likely outcome for Hernández, according to legal experts.

The former president remained in the U.S. until his arrest warrant in Honduras was suspended by a judge in June.

Prosecutors requested that he remain in custody while his case is ongoing, but the judge denied the request Monday. However, the court placed some restrictions on Hernández. He is barred from leaving the country and must check in with the court on a weekly basis.

Hernández has denied the charges against him and said he willingly faces the case against him, which "lacks any legal basis.”

He will return to court for his next hearing on Aug. 12.

Follow AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

FILE - Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez speaks during the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday Nov. 1, 2021. (Andy Buchanan/Pool via AP, File)

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández is surrounded by supporters after his arrival to Toncontin airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Destephen)

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández waves after his arrival to Toncontin airport in Tagucigalpa, Honduras, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Destephen)