Final
Pirates rally behind home runs to sink Brewers
Jul 4, 2007 - 11:59 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Ryan Doumit and Adam LaRoche each hit two-run homers as the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the sixth time in nine games, beating the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-3, on Wednesday afternoon.Ian Snell pitched eight strong innings and Matt Capps picked up his eighth save for Pittsburgh, which modestly moved into fourth place in the National League Central Division.
Rookie Ryan Braun hit a three-run home run - his eighth of the season - for the first-place Brewers, who have lost three out of four and four of six.
"It's more fun winning and the atmosphere in here has changed," LaRoche said. "You can see guys coming to the field with a little more confidence, a little better attitude."
The first three Brewers of the game reached base, capped by Braun's three-run homer to center that scored Corey Hart and Craig Counsell. But that was it for the Milwaukee offense against Snell (7-5), who won for the third time in four decisions and improved to 4-0 lifetime against the Brewers.
"He's always been pretty tough on us, he did a really nice job from (the first inning) on," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "You know that you still have to find some ways to tack on some runs. You gotta hold them there.
"Getting three runs in first is nice, but they haven't even hit yet. They've got 27 outs. The game's a long way from being through, and you have to find more ways to tack on some runs. If you don't, you get outcomes like we did today."
Snell allowed three runs on nine hits, striking out five and walking one. The Pirates have won five of his past six starts. He entered the game with the fifth-best ERA in the National League, a number that actually climbed .03 to 2.93 with his performance Wednesday.
"That a phenomenal eight innings of pitching that Ian Snell just gave us this afternoon," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "When you consider the way the game started ... to turn it around and go the next seven innings the way he did, I think is another sign of what this man, who is he and what's he's becoming."
Pittsburgh got its first run in the bottom of the first when Jose Bautista's sacrifice fly scored Nate McLouth, who had led off with a triple.
Doumit's shot, his fifth, went to right with LaRoche aboard in the fourth. Two innings later, LaRoche hit his 11th to right-center, scoring Freddy Sanchez for a 5-3 lead.
LaRoche, who also singled and walked, has gone 13-for-28 (.464) with four doubles, three home runs and eight RBI in his past seven games and extended his PNC Park hitting streak to nine contests. He also singled and walked.
"I wouldn't even have swung at that a month ago," LaRoche said of the 3-0 pitch he hit for a homer. "I'm praying for a walk right there, so that's how things change."
Milwaukee had not lost a game that Claudio Vargas (6-2) had started since May 26 - a span of six consecutive winning outings. But he allowed five runs on six hits Wednesday, walking two and striking out four.
"Those two (home runs), I was behind in the count," said Vargas. "That's the only two hitters (who did damage) I feel bad because we scored three runs in the first inning and I let them come back."
Braun, Prince Fielder and Gabe Gross each had two hits and Hart extended his hitting streak to 20 games for the Brewers, who have homered in 13 straight games.
Despite his stellar ERA, Snell was not selected for the All-Star game. Fellow Pittsburgh starter Tom Gorzelanny was named one of the final five selections that fans can vote for online.
"I thought I deserved to make it but I didn't," Snell said. "It's not that big a deal anymore. I'll shoot for next year. Right now, I just want to try to get this thing into the playoffs."
- NL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 10 0
PITTSBURGH 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 x 5 6 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS, MATT WISE (7TH) AND JOHNNY ESTRADA
PIT - IAN SNELL, MATT CAPPS (9TH) AND RONNY PAULINO
HOME RUNS: MIL - RYAN BRAUN (8) OFF IAN SNELL IN THE 1
Jul 4 6:22 PM - NL
AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ADAM LAROCHE (11) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH
0 OUT IN THE 6TH OFF CLAUDIO VARGAS SCORED FREDDY SANCHEZ.
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3, PITTSBURGH 5
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: R DOUMIT (.303, 1-FOR-2, HR, 2 RBI)
Brewers vs. PiratesJul 4 5:34 PM - NL
AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY RYAN DOUMIT (5) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 4TH OFF CLAUDIO VARGAS SCORED ADAM LAROCHE.
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3, PITTSBURGH 3
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: X NADY (.280, 1-FOR-1)
Brewers vs. PiratesJul 4 5:07 PM - NL
AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY JOSE BAUTISTA SCORED NATE MCLOUTH.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
PITTSBURGH 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: F SANCHEZ (.296, 1 HR, 30 RBI)
Brewers vs. PiratesJul 4 4:29 PM - NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 3 3 4 0
PITTSBURGH 0 0 1 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - CLAUDIO VARGAS
PIT - IAN SNELL
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.245, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
J BAUTISTA (.264, 7 HR, 30 RBI)
F SANCHEZ (.296, 1 HR, 30 RB
Brewers vs. PiratesJul 4 4:22 PM
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