Final/11
Brewers-Pirates Preview
Sep 13, 2015 - 4:43 AM The Pittsburgh Pirates are closing in on the NL Central lead and can further tighten the race with another win over the lowly Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.The Pirates (85-56) are practically assured of reaching the postseason via the wild card, but they're mounting a run at Central-leading St. Louis with 21 games left in the regular season. Pittsburgh has pulled within 2 1/2 of the Cardinals, the closest it's been to first place since it was two back at the All-Star break.
"We've taken the mindset for years about not having a September gear, not having an August gear, about playing October baseball from opening day on," manager Clint Hurdle said. "The season is going to play itself out, and we've just got to keep working on getting better and trying to win games."
The Pirates are 24-7 in their last 31 home games after a five-run third inning led to a 10-2 victory over Milwaukee (62-80) on Saturday.
Giving the ball to Francisco Liriano (10-7, 3.28 ERA) in the finale of this four-game set should bode well since he's 5-1 with a 2.59 ERA in nine day starts. Pittsburgh has also won 12 of its last 13 and nine straight at home with Liriano on the mound.
While he's 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA over that stretch at PNC Park, the offense has been a major part of that success with 6.91 runs of support per game.
The left-hander was impressive at Cincinnati on Tuesday, striking out 10 and yielding three hits in six scoreless innings of a 7-3 win. Liriano also helped himself by going 2 for 3 with a double and a run.
"He's tough to hit," manager Clint Hurdle told MLB's official website.
Liriano, though, is 0-4 with a 6.11 ERA over his last five starts against Milwaukee after losing 4-1 in the only home matchup of that stretch June 9. He allowed three runs in eight innings.
Josh Harrison is hitting .364 in his last eight home matchups with the Brewers. He's 7 for 13 with three runs in this series, matching his career high with four hits while scoring twice Saturday.
"I'm ready to play every day," Harrison said. "If I'm not in the (original) lineup then I'm still always ready for certain cases like (Saturday)."
Harrison, however, is just 1 for 6 against scheduled starter Taylor Jungmann (9-6, 2.87), who has won all three of his starts against the Pirates behind a 1.35 ERA. That includes the rookie right-hander's major-league debut at Pittsburgh opposite Liriano on June 9 in which he yielded one run and three hits in seven innings.
He hasn't come close to being that effective on the road lately, compiling an 8.27 ERA while losing four straight starts after going 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA through his first five.
Jungmann's latest effort was his worst of the year at any venue. He surrendered a season-high six runs and seven hits, including two homers, in 3 2-3 innings of Tuesday's 6-4 loss at Miami.
Ryan Braun has been among the few bright spots for the Brewers, hitting .442 with seven RBIs over his past 11 road games. However, he's 2 for 11 against Liriano over the past two years, going 0 for 5 in 2015.
- MILWAUKEE: 6
PITTSBURGH: 7
Final/11
Sep 13 5:44 PM - J.Harrison singled to left, Florimon scored, S.Rodriguez to third.
Brewers 6, Pirates 7 Bot 11, 1 OutSep 13 5:44 PM - Josh Harrison singles to left field. Sean Rodriguez to third. Pedro Florimon scores.
Brewers 6, Pirates 7 Bot 11, 1 OutSep 13 5:43 PM - Kang singled to left, N.Walker scored, McCutchen to second.
Brewers 6, Pirates 6 Bot 7, 1 OutSep 13 4:29 PM - Jung-Ho Kang singles to left field. Andrew McCutchen to second. Neil Walker scores.
Brewers 6, Pirates 6 Bot 7, 1 OutSep 13 4:29 PM - McCutchen singled to right, J.Harrison scored, N.Walker to second.
Brewers 6, Pirates 5 Bot 7, 1 OutSep 13 4:28 PM - Andrew McCutchen singles to right field. Neil Walker to second. Josh Harrison scores.
Brewers 6, Pirates 5 Bot 7, 1 OutSep 13 4:27 PM - Mercer hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Do.Santana, Cervelli scored.
Brewers 6, Pirates 4 Bot 4, 2 OutsSep 13 3:26 PM - Jordy Mercer out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Domingo Santana. Francisco Cervelli scores.
Brewers 6, Pirates 4 Bot 4, 1 OutSep 13 3:26 PM - Snider hit a ground-rule double to left, Kang scored, P.Alvarez scored, Cervelli to third.
Brewers 6, Pirates 3 Bot 4, 1 OutSep 13 3:24 PM - Travis Snider doubles to left field. Francisco Cervelli to third. Pedro Alvarez scores. Jung-Ho Kang scores.
Brewers 6, Pirates 3 Bot 4, 1 OutSep 13 3:24 PM - Hernan Perez singles to left center field. Jean Segura scores.
Brewers 6, Pirates 1 Top 4, 0 OutsSep 13 3:07 PM - Elian Herrera doubles to deep left field. Jason Rogers scores.
Brewers 5, Pirates 1 Top 3, 1 OutSep 13 2:47 PM - K.Davis homered to center on a 1-1 count, Braun scored.
Brewers 4, Pirates 1 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 13 2:41 PM - Khris Davis homers to deep center field. Ryan Braun scores.
Brewers 4, Pirates 1 Top 3, 0 OutsSep 13 2:41 PM - J.Rogers hit an infield single to third, Segura scored, Braun to third.
Brewers 1, Pirates 0 Top 1, 2 OutsSep 13 2:08 PM - Jason Rogers singles to shallow infield. Ryan Braun scores. Jean Segura scores. Fielding error by Francisco Liriano.
Brewers 2, Pirates 0 Top 1, 2 OutsSep 13 2:07 PM
Sep 13 1:58 PM- MILWAUKEE: 0
PITTSBURGH: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 13 1:56 PM
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