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Hoffman gets first save as Brewers top Pirates

Apr 29, 2009 - 4:34 AM By COLIN FLY AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE(AP) -- Trevor Hoffman has a new request for his new team and owner Mark Attanasio: Louder speakers.

Hoffman saved his first game with the Brewers following his famous entrance to AC/DC's "Hells Bells," and Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks homered in the sixth inning to rally Milwaukee to a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

"There's no noise ordinance out here. We aren't hurting anybody sleeping," Hoffman said. "The speakers can't go any louder? Mr. Attanasio might need to get more speakers."

Prince Fielder laughed, shouting to Hoffman: "Message!"

But it was the Brewers rally that really got things shaking. The Brewers trailed 5-1 before they scored two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth on Hall's solo homer to start the inning off Pirates starter Paul Maholm and Weeks' go-ahead, two-run shot off Jesse Chavez.

"It was a nice comeback win for us," Brewers manager Ken Macha said.

The 41-year-old Hoffman, the career saves leader who signed a $6 million, one-year deal with Milwaukee in the offseason, got his first save with the Brewers and 555th of his career one night after making his first appearance with Milwaukee.

Hoffman, who spent the first three weeks of the season on the DL with a strained oblique, allowed a leadoff single to Ramon Vazquez, but struck out Nyjer Morgan and forced Freddy Sanchez to ground into a double play to end it. Hoffman's single was the only hit in four innings by the bullpen.

"I thought it was good energy tonight, it was fun," Hoffman said.

It was Milwaukee's 14th straight win over Pittsburgh, the longest active streak by one team over another in the majors, and 17th straight in Miller Park, where the Pirates haven't won since May 3, 2007.

The Pirates will leave Milwaukee with their first winning April in seven years even if they are swept Wednesday.

Maholm stranded the bases loaded in the third and fourth inning while scattering seven hits and five walks.

"Sooner or later the baseball gods are going to catch up with you," Pirates manager John Russell said.

The 26-year-old left-hander finally faltered in the fifth on an RBI double by Ryan Braun, who later came around to score on Mike Cameron's groundout that cut the lead to 5-3.

Maholm failed to get out of the sixth after giving up the homer to Hall and a one-out single to Craig Counsell.

Weeks, who has homered in consecutive games, hit the second pitch from Chavez (0-1) over the left field wall after committing an error that cost Milwaukee a run in the third and popping out with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

"I made the mistake and that's unacceptable," Chavez said.

Weeks, who is tied for the team lead with five home runs, said he found the mechanics of his swing in the offseason by watching videos of his rookie year after fighting injuries the past two seasons.

"It's a long road," Weeks said. "The swing has always been good, it's just the setup."

Jorge Julio (1-0) pitched a perfect sixth. Mitch Stetter and Todd Coffey each pitched an inning before Hoffman entered.

Brewers starter Dave Bush, who took a no-hitter into the eighth in his previous start on Thursday at Philadelphia, hit three batters and walked another as the Pirates built a 5-1 lead off Eric Hinske's two-run double in the third, Morgan's sacrifice fly in the fourth and Jason Jaramillo's two-out, two-run double in the fifth.

Notes: Brewers GM Doug Melvin said he's happy with his pitching staff despite being linked briefly in a report as being interested in free agent RHP Pedro Martinez. "The guy's not pitching anywhere, so I've got nothing to judge him on," Melvin said. ... Brewers C Mike Rivera was pinch hit for in the fourth after spraining his left ankle on a play at the plate in the top half. Rivera is Bush's personal catcher. ... Pirates CF Nate McLouth (oblique) threw and ran some on the field before the game. McLouth is still several days away from returning.