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Pirates topple Brewers in game two of doubleheader

Aug 23, 2011 - 5:35 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Sparked by Josh Harrison's go-ahead RBI, the Pittsburgh Pirates pushed across seven runs in the seventh inning to earn an emphatic, 9-2, victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the back end of a doubleheader.

The Brewers won the opener, 8-1, behind a strong performance from Chris Narveson, who returned from the disabled list to toss 5 1/3 scoreless frames and knock in a pair of runs.

In the nightcap, Ryan Doumit went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for the Pirates, who had lost 13 straight games to the Brewers.

Brad Lincoln allowed two runs over six frames before handing the ball to Daniel McCutchen (4-3), who worked a scoreless seventh to earn the win.

Zack Greinke (12-5) was charged with seven runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings to suffer the loss. He had won his previous five starts.

Corey Hart had a solo home run for the Brewers, who have won 23 of 27 despite the setback. They remain a comfortable nine games ahead of the Cardinals for first place in the NL Central.

"When you're on the road and you're playing a doubleheader, you're fine with a split," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke admitted.

Hart began the game with a home run to center. Nyjer Morgan followed with a single, stole second, advanced to third on Ryan Braun's flyout and beat Neil Walker's throw home on a Prince Fielder grounder to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead. They would not score for the remainder of the game.

"The way the game started, for him to right himself, gather himself and then pitch five consecutive scoreless innings...was outstanding," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Lincoln.

The Pirates pushed a run across in the bottom half. Jose Tabata, who finished 2-for-5, led off with a single, moved to second on an Xavier Paul groundout and scored on Walker's single.

Doumit belted a game-tying homer in the fourth.

Garrett Jones began the bottom of the seventh with a single. After Matt Diaz was hit by a pitch, Harrison doubled to push across the go-ahead run. From there the floodgates opened.

Diaz scored on a wild pitch and Tabata followed an Andrew McCutchen walk with a double to make it a 5-2 game, marking the end of Greinke's night.

Frankie De La Cruz entered and surrendered run-scoring singles to Paul and Doumit and a sac fly to Jones. Walker scored on a wild pitch to seal the final margin.

Game Notes

The Brewers are now 9-1 against the Pirates on the season. They had won 13 straight over Pittsburgh dating back to last season...Greinke suffered his first loss since July 21...Narveson returned from the 15-day DL to start the opener of the twin-bill. He was removed in the sixth inning after injuring the middle finger of his throwing hand. Earlier in the month, he landed on the DL after accidentally slicing his left thumb with a pair of scissors while repairing his glove...On Monday, the Pirates placed pitcher Kevin Correia on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique, retroactive to August 20. To fill the roster spot, the Pirates recalled pitcher Chris Leroux from Triple-A Indianapolis and activated him from the 15- day disabled list.