Both Brewers catchers homer in the win
In a back-and-forth game on Thursday afternoon, it was the Brewers who struck the decisive blow. A pinch-hit home run by Gary Sanchez put the Brewers ahead in the eighth inning, and from there they hung on to win 7-5.
It didn’t take long for the Brewers to get on the board on Thursday. The second batter of the game, William Contreras, sent a ball out to left-center field for an early 1-0 lead.
Bow down to @Wcontreras42 https://t.co/73fnqCPlAE pic.twitter.com/JglCDhfFbv
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 25, 2024
Unfortunately, the Pirates got to Freddy Peralta right away. After allowing a one-out single to Bryan Reynolds and a walk to Rowdy Tellez, Joey Bart hit a three-run home run to center field. That put the Brewers down 3-1 after one inning.
The Brewers responded two innings later in the third. Back-to-back walks from Sal Frelick and Contreras started the inning, then back-to-back singles from Jake Bauers and Rhys Hoskins brought in both of them. That tied the game at 3-3 until the fifth inning. Contreras singled to lead off that inning, then stole second. Hoskins brought Contreras in with an RBI double, and the Brewers had the lead again at 4-3.
For the second time of the day, Peralta gave up that lead in the bottom of the inning. After two outs to start the inning, he allowed a walk to Bart. Jack Suwinski brought in Bart with a double, and Jared Triolo brought in Suwinski with a single. The Pirates had the lead again at 5-4, and Peralta’s day was done.
From there, the game was turned over to the bullpens, and they kept it a 5-4 game until the eighth inning. Blake Perkins led off the eighth with a single off of Aroldis Chapman, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Perkins was left at second until two outs, when Gary Sanchez was brought in to pinch hit for Frelick. With an 0-2 count, Sanchez hit one out to right and the Brewers took the lead back at 6-5.
PINCH-HIT, TWO-STRIKE, GO-AHEAD BOMB FOR @ElGarySanchez https://t.co/7Sll4mCu3a pic.twitter.com/71LODyCLz2
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 25, 2024
The Brewers got an insurance run in the ninth from an Oliver Dunn RBI single. They loaded the bases in the ninth with one out, but the inning ended after Bauers tried to score on a fly ball and was caught at home. The lead was more than enough, though. Trevor Megill took the ninth and pitched a clean inning for his first career save.
The Brewers’ offense combined for twelve hits and five walks in the game. Rhys Hoskins led the offense with a 3-for-5 day, and Contreras, Bauers, and Perkins each added two hits. Eight of the nine Brewers starters reached base at least once.
On the pitching side, it wasn’t Peralta’s day. He allowed five runs in 4 2⁄3 innings pitched, all coming in his first and last innings. However, the bullpen picked him up. Five relievers combined for 4 1⁄3 scoreless innings. They allowed just three hits and two walks. Abner Uribe struck out the side in his inning of work. Jared Koenig and Joel Payamps got into trouble in their innings but kept the Pirates off the board. Megill finished with a clean inning to secure the win.
The Brewers return home tomorrow to start a homestand against two AL East opponents. First up are the Yankees, who will play a weekend series at American Family Field. Colin Rea gets the start in game one, while the Yankees have not announced their starter yet. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m, and it will be on Bally Sports Wisconsin in-market and MLB Network out-of-market.