• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Brewers blank Pirates

Aug 13, 2011 - 11:57 PM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Yuniesky Betancourt's solo home run in the second inning accounted for the only run of the game as Milwaukee bested Pittsburgh, 1-0, in the second contest of a three-game set.

Marco Estrada (3-7) made the spot start in place of an injured Chris Narveson and got the win. He pitched five innings and gave up just one hit while striking out five.

"He had thrown a lot of pitches and we will try to build him up from there," said Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke. "He did so well early in the season filling in and he's a real good choice for us so we'll keep him in the rotation for now."

Takashi Saito, LaTroy Hawkins, Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the shutout for the Brewers, who have won eight of their last nine games.

Kevin Correia (12-11) gave up just one run on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings, but it wasn't enough to keep the Pirates from losing for the 13th time in their past 15 games.

The Pirates had more bad news before the game as they placed first baseman Derrek Lee on the 15-day disabled list because of a fractured bone in his left wrist.

Pittsburgh didn't move a runner past second until the ninth inning when Xavier Paul led off the frame with a triple off of Axford. However, Andrew McCutchen grounded out to short and Matt Diaz then grounded out to second. After Garrett Jones walked, Neil Walker struck out to end the game and give Axford his 34th save of the season.

"We got the leadoff hitter to third in the ninth and that's a situation where you need to convert and we couldn't do it," said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle. "Their bullpen is pretty good and you have to give their closer credit, but that's an opportunity you have to cash in on."

Betancourt's ninth home run of the year came with one-out in the second to stake the Brewers to a 1-0 lead.

Ronny Cedeno singled with one out in the third and moved to second on Correia's sac bunt, but McCutchen struck out to end the inning.

Milwaukee left men on base from the third through the seventh innings and left the bases loaded in the seventh after Case McGehee looked at strike three to end the frame.

In all, the Brewers batted just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.

Game Notes

To take Lee's roster spot, the team recalled infielder Josh Harrison from Triple-A Indianapolis...Correia has dropped his past three starts...Milwaukee improve to a MLB-best 43-15 at home this season...The Brewers have won 10 straight against Pittsburgh and 35 of the last 38 games between the two clubs at Miller Park.