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Miller drives in seven to lead Brewers

Jul 3, 2007 - 4:02 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Damian Miller is experiencing a power surge.

Miller homered twice, including a grand slam, had a career-high-tying four hits and drove in a career-best seven runs as Milwaukee topped the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-3, Monday night.

The seven RBI also tied a team record for the Brewers, accomplished four times in their history, most recently by Richie Sexson on April 18, 2002.

"It's really one of those nights where you have no explanation," Miller said. "Things just fell into place. I got good pitches to hit, I put good swings on them and that's what it is."

After going his first 25 games of the season without a homer, Miller now has three in his past two games. His first homer of the campaign came Wednesday against Houston, an 11th-inning walk-off blast.

"It's obviously nice for me, not being an everyday player anymore, to contribute, offensively the last few games," he said. "The rate I'm going now, I'm having success playing once or twice a week. Why change? But I'll be ready if he (needs) me in there."

Monday's game was a seesaw battle, tied, 3-3, after six innings, but the Brewers blew it open with seven runs in the seventh off Pirates reliever Masumi Kuwata (0-1).

"Tonight I couldn't control my curveball," Kuwata said. "With the score tied in the seventh inning, I have to keep the ball down."

Corey Hart broke the tie when his RBI double drove home Tony Graffanino. The hit extended Hart's hitting streak to 18 games. National League All-Star J.J. Hardy then singled home Hart, making it 5-3.

After a Ryan Braun strikeout, Prince Fielder was issued an intentional walk, Bill Hall doubled home Hardy and Geoff Jenkins was issued an intentional walk, setting the stage for Miller.

Miller drove Kuwata's 1-1 pitch into the left-field bleachers making it 10-3. It was Miller's sixth career grand slam and the fifth multi-homer homer game of his career.

"I don't think I ever really had a power swing; when I hit a homer it's an accident," Miller said. "I really can't explain it, I'm just getting pitches and putting good swings on them, it's as simple as that."

In all, the Brewers sent 11 men to the plate in the seventh, registered six hits and two walks.

"The way things were going, we just kind of had the feeling that one inning we would come in and get some runs," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "I didn't expect to drop seven out there but it was nice when we did because it opened up a lot of options out there in terms of our pitching."

Milwaukee's Carlos Villanueva (6-0) was one of those options for Yost as he tossed four scoreless innings to pick up the win in relief of starter Jeff Suppan, who yielded three runs and five hits in five frames.

"I felt if I could save the other guys in the 'pen from having to come in in a game like that, I would do my best," Villanueva said.

The game didn't start out so bad for the Pirates as starter John Van Benschoten cruised through a 1-2-3 top of the first and Nate McLouth led off the Pirates' half of the first with a double and later came around to score on National League All-Star Freddy Sanchez's groundout to shortstop to make it 1-0.

Van Benschoten ran into trouble in the second. He issued back-to-back walks to start the inning to Fielder and Hall. After a Jenkins flyout, Miller singled home Fielder to tie the score at 1-1.

Van Benschoten escaped further damage when he retired the next two batters to end the inning. He threw 31 pitches in the frame.

The Pirates added another run in the third and again a McLouth double was key. This time Van Benschoten drew a one-out walk and scored when McLouth doubled to left-center field, the ball glancing off the outstretched glove of Brewers center fielder Hall.

Miller and the Brewers struck again in the fourth when Hall singled with one out and then scored one batter later when Miller hit his first homer of the game and second of the season to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead.

McLouth again spearheaded a Pirates' rally in the fifth when he singled with one out, advanced to third on a single by Jose Bautista and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Sanchez to make it 3-3.

McLouth, a bench player who has just 11 starts this season for Pittsburgh, went 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI to lead the Pirates' attack.

"I had a good night, too bad it just didn't mean more," McLouth said.

Van Benschoten lasted six innings, allowing three runs on three hits with five strikeouts. Hall reached base four times and scored twice for the Brewers, who are 6-1 against the Pirates this season.

"Whether it's coming from the battery or the defense or the offense, it always takes everybody to win and that's how we play," Suppan said.