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Morgan lifts Brewers over Pirates in extras

Aug 15, 2011 - 12:02 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Nyjer Morgan hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to score the game-winning run, lifting the Brewers to a 2-1 win over the Pirates on Sunday.

The Brewers got four outs because of a wild pitch and rallied to tie the game on Ryan Braun's RBI single in the eighth inning -- the first time they had a runner past second base all day.

Morgan's deep fly ball to right-center off Chris Resop (3-4) scored George Kottaras, who had singled with one out and moved to third on Casey McGehee's double off the right field wall.

The Brewers swept the three-game series and extended their winning streak to 12 straight games over the Pirates, including eight this season. They moved to 36-3 against Pittsburgh at Miller Park since 2007.

"Is there something about this place? Apparently," said Pirates starter Charlie Morton. "The proof is in the pudding."

Milwaukee also wrapped up an 18-game stretch of playing only NL Central opponents with a 16-2 record.

The Pirates are just 2-14 in their last 16 games and 5-19 in their last 24. They are headed back home for a 10-game homestand, all against division opponents.

Morton pitched into the eighth inning and left with a 1-0 lead and a runner at second base. Jose Veras got the second out, a McGehee fly ball, and was replaced by Joel Hanrahan.

Morgan struck out swinging but catcher Michael McKenry couldn't stop Hanrahan's ball in the dirt, allowing Morgan to reach first base and Jerry Hairston to reach third.

"It was a great pitch, a swing-and-miss pitch," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "Our catcher had been doing so good at blocking balls, but unfortunately it didn't work out in that situation. When there's no safety net, there's no room for error. That's on us."

Braun followed with a single up the middle, tying the game at 1-1.

"Breaks seem to happen when you're going good and we got some," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.

Takashi Saito (3-1) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 10th inning to earn the win. Shaun Marcum started the game for Milwaukee and gave up one run and five hits in 7 2/3 innings.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Garrett Jones doubled and scored on Andrew McCutchen's ground-rule double.

Morton consistently escaped trouble to lead intact.

He allowed just three baserunners in the first four innings, and only one of them made it past first after Mark Kotsay singled leading off the second and Morton hit Craig Counsell with a pitch. The Pirates escaped the inning with a double play.

The Brewers didn't have another runner until Yuniesky Betancourt singled to lead off the fifth, but he was caught stealing second. Morgan drew a two-out walk in the sixth and went to second on Braun's single, but the rally went nowhere.

Game Notes

The Brewers are 54-17 overall against the Pirates since 2007, the best winning percentage by one team over a division opponent in that span...The teams wore alternate jerseys for German Heritage Day at Miller Park -- the only difference were the names: "Piraten" and "Bierbrauers"...The Brewers are 5-3 in Marcum's last eight starts. Marcum is unbeaten during the span (3-0) and hasn't lost since June 29.