Reynolds slugs Pirates past Yelich-less Brewers 6-5
By ALAN SAUNDERS Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Red-hot rookie Bryan Reynolds hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 Sunday in their final game before the All-Star break.
The estimated 403-foot shot cleared the seats beyond the fence in right-center field and bounced toward the Allegheny River. Reynolds’ seventh homer of the season came after Kevin Kramer walked and Adam Frazier singled off reliever Junior Guerra (3-2).
Reynolds also hit an RBI double in the fifth and is batting .342 with a .950 OPS.
Brewers star Christian Yelich did not play and pulled out of Monday’s All-Star Home Run Derby with a back injury. It’s unclear if Yelich will still play in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
Jesús Aguilar hit a two-run home run in the seventh off Pirates starter Joe Musgrove that tied the game at 3. It was his second home run of the game and eighth of season. He also hit a solo shot to left off Musgrove in the fifth.
Francisco Liriano relieved Musgrove and finished the seventh to improve to 3-1. Felipe Vázquez worked a four-out save, his 20th of the season.
Milwaukee rookie Keston Hiura hit a two-run homer in the eighth, also his seventh of the season.
Musgrove struck out five in six-plus innings, allowing five hits and three runs. His appearance was interrupted by a 40-minute rain delay in between the fifth and sixth innings.
He also contributed at the plate during a two-run second inning against starter Chase Anderson. Colin Moran tripled and scored on Kevin Newman’s single to right. Newman and Jacob Stallings perfectly executed a hit-and-run that left Newman at third for Musgrove, who put a squeeze bunt down the right side for his first career RBI.
Anderson allowed two runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked two.
Orlando Arcia pinch hit in the fifth inning after a scary collision with Hiura on Saturday.
Infield prospect Mauricio Dubon, recalled as insurance for Arcia, made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter in the eighth. Dubon is the first big leaguer born and raised in Honduras.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Burch Smith was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Dubon.
Pirates: LF Corey Dickerson (right groin discomfort) was held out of the lineup. … LHP Steven Brault (left shoulder strain) is not expected to be ready to return from the injured list after the 10-day minimum. Dario Agrazal will start the second half in the starting rotation while Brault recovers. … Kramer was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and RHP Montana DuRapau was optioned there.
UP NEXT
Brewers: Have not announced a starting pitcher for their second-half opener on Friday against San Francisco.
Pirates: Chris Archer (3-6, 5.49 ERA) will start the second half at the Chicago Cubs on Friday. He had a 7.89 ERA on the road in the first half.
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Newman, Marte have 3 RBIs each, Pirates top Brewers 12-2
By WES CROSBY Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kevin Newman had a big night at the plate for the Pirates. So did Colin Moran. Starling Marte, too.
They all helped power Pittsburgh to a 12-2 thumping of the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.
Newman and Moran each had four hits and three RBIs, and Marte drove in three runs of his own.
“It’s a blast,” Newman said. “We’re just all having a great time going out there battling, making good contact, just trying to put runs up for the team. It’s going well for us right now.”
Newman, who had a home run among his hits, bounced back after going 0 for 5 in a 7-6 loss to Milwaukee on Friday. Melky Cabrera also homered for the Pirates.
Dario Agrazal (2-0) allowed two runs in six innings after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to start in place of Trevor Williams, who was placed on the paternity list Saturday. The rookie right-hander gave up those runs on two homers, one by Mike Moustakas in the first and another by Yasmani Grandal two innings later.
“He knows what he wants to do,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s done it since we’ve got him here. … In less than a handful of major league starts, there doesn’t seem to be much panic.”
After waiting out a rain delay of more than two hours, Moustakas gave the Brewers a quick 1-0 lead with his 25th homer of the season. But Newman hit a two-run single in the bottom of the first to cap Pittsburgh’s four-run inning.
Each of the Pirates’ first four runs came with two outs, starting with Moran’s single and Corey Dickerson’s double.
Grandal homered in the third to cut the deficit to two runs at 4-2, but Newman sent a slider from Adrian Houser (2-3) in the fourth 375 feet over the right-field wall for his sixth homer of the season.
Houser gave up more than three runs for the second time in 19 appearances – including five starts – this season, allowing five on seven hits in four innings.
“I feel like I’m letting the team down when I go out there and give up four in the first,” Houser said. “Just have to be better and figure some stuff out.”
The Brewers missed a chance to get even – or take the lead – when Lorenzo Cain left the bases loaded by grounding to second in the fifth.
Marte’s triple drove in two more to put Pittsburgh ahead 7-2 in the sixth. He made it 8-2 on a single to left in the eighth.
Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia and second baseman Keston Hiura collided while converging on a groundball by Moran in the eighth, which plated two to give Pittsburgh a 10-2 lead. Arcia sat up while being carted off and waving to the crowd; Hiura remained in the game.
Manager Craig Counsell said Arcia was still being evaluated after the game, but noted shoulder pain is probably the worst of the symptoms. He said Hiura seemed to be fine.
“They’re both just trying to make a play,” Counsell said. “Just in the wrong spot and hit at the wrong speed. My understanding is Orlando’s shoulder hit Keston probably somewhere in the head area.”
Cabrera capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the eighth.
JOIN THE CLUB
Pirates LHP Felipe Vázquez and Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff were named to the National League All-Star squad on Saturday. They will replace Brewers LHP Josh Hader (day-to-day with back soreness) and Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (personal matter).
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Burch Smith was recalled from Triple-A San Antonio on Saturday. … RHP Deolis Guerra was designated for assignment after giving up four runs in the ninth inning of his season debut Friday.
Pirates: Dickerson left with right groin discomfort after catching a routine fly ball for the second out of the seventh inning. … RHP Dovydas Neverauskas was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. … LHP Steven Brault was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder strain. … RHP Montana DuRapau and RHP Luis Escobar were recalled from Indianapolis.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (4-2, 4.31) will face Pittsburgh on Sunday coming off two straight solid starts. He gave up four runs – three earned – in 11 innings during his past two starts since surrendering six in five innings against Cincinnati on June 21.
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (6-7, 4.13) has allowed just one run in 16 innings over his last three starts, including none in three innings in a rain-shortened start against the Cubs on July 2.
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Judge hits 2nd HR of game in 11th, Yankees beat Rays 8-4
By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees are on some kind of hot streak heading into the final weekend before the All-Star break.
Judge hit his second homer of the game leading off the 11th inning, Brett Gardner added a three-run shot and the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-4 on Friday night.
“When it gets to be winning time with these guys, these guys know what to do,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “Just another really impressive performance. Judgy went up there real aggressive, went superhero on us.”
Judge connected on the first pitch from Ryne Stanek (0-2) to give him nine career multihomer games.
“I know he can get his fastball up to 100 (mph) and a good splitter,” Judge said. “So my biggest thing was to try to get ready early and stay on the heater but also have a chance at that splitter.”
The big slugger also went deep in the first against two-way player Brendan McKay as New York extended its AL East lead over Tampa Bay to a season-high 8 1/2 games.
The Yankees have won 16 of 18 since June 15 and are 9-2 against the Rays this season.
“Look, they’re a better team than us right now,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “There’s no denying that. They have a better record for many of the right reasons and they perform better than us. In a game, in a head-to-head matchup, they make the most of those situations more than we have.”
Aaron Hicks tied it in the eighth with a pinch-hit homer for the Yankees, who used a five-run 10th to beat the Rays 8-4 on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.
David Hale (2-0) left with two on and one out in the 11th. Aroldis Chapman, who blew a two-run lead in the ninth Thursday, walked Travis d’Arnaud with two outs but got a lineout from Tommy Pham to get his 24th save.
Masahiro Tanaka, who entered 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season, was charged with four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
McKay allowed three runs and six hits over five innings in his second pitching start. The left-hander gave up one hit in six scoreless innings in his big league debut last Saturday, a win over Texas.
“I’ve faced two very quality lineups and got my feet wet to what it’s like up here,” McKay said.
Nate Lowe hit his first major league homer and Mike Zunino also went deep for the Rays.
After replacing Tanaka with runners on first and third, Nestor Cortes Jr. allowed Kevin Kiermaier’s two-run single that gave Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead.
Hicks got the Yankees even in the eighth.
Judge, who faced McKay while on a rehab assignment for an oblique injury June 15 with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Durham, hit a hard grounder that just missed the pitcher’s leg in the fourth. He struck out swinging on a 93 mph fastball from McKay with two on to end the fifth.
In the minor league game, McKay got a grounder from Judge and struck him out.
HONORING CC
Yankees LHP CC Sabathia will be honored by Major League Baseball at Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in Cleveland. In the final season of his 19-year career, Sabathia will be recognized for his contributions to the game and longtime service to the community. “This is awesome,” said Sabathia, who started his big league career with the Indians in 2001.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: C Gary Sanchez was rested. He struck out as a pinch-hitter in the 10th.
Rays: Kiermaier (sore left wrist) was out of the lineup the previous two games.
UP NEXT
Yankees: Sabathia (5-4) starts on 11 days’ rest Saturday. He is 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA in three outings against Tampa Bay this season.
Rays: AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (5-7) allowed six runs and got only one out in his last start against the Yankees on June 19 in New York.
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Brewers blow big lead, recover to edge Pirates 7-6 in 10
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A seemingly safe five-run ninth-inning lead gone in a flash, the Milwaukee Brewers were badly in need of a pickup.
Facing one of the best closers in the majors, Orlando Arcia provided one.
The shortstop’s sharp single off Pittsburgh’s Felipe Vázquez in the top of the 10th inning started a rally that ended with Lorenzo Cain’s go-ahead RBI single to put the Brewers ahead for good as Milwaukee ended a three-game losing streak to move in front of idle Chicago for first-place in the airtight NL Central.
“I think it’s one of those things where you have to do something good to change around the feeling,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
Good feelings were in short supply in the Milwaukee dugout after the Pirates erased a five-run deficit in the ninth.
Starling Marte’s sacrifice fly scored Melky Cabrera and got the Pirates going. All-Star first baseman Josh Bell followed two batters later with a three-run shot to the right-field seats off Delios Guerra to get Pittsburgh within one. Milwaukee reliever Junior Guerra came on in an attempt to get the final out. His first pitch to Jung Ho Kang ended up in the left-field bleachers to tie the game.
“That pitch to Kang was kind of in the middle,” Junior Guerra said. “I expect that he’s not going to swing on the first pitch. That’s why I don’t throw fastball.”
The Brewers, however, bounced back against Vázquez (2-1). Arcia singled with one out, moved to third on Manny Piña’s single and scored when Cain’s sharp grounder got through the hole between first and second base.
“A lot of things happened,” Cain said. “We had the lead there in the end. They ended up coming back. At the end of the day, we find a way to come back and win. We definitely needed that. It was a big boost for the boys.”
Arcia finished 2 for 4, including his 12th home run of the season. Piña and Jesus Aguilar both hit two-run shots during Milwaukee’s four-run eighth that gave the Brewers a five-run lead the bullpen squandered.
Junior Guerra (3-1) picked up the win after blowing the save when he struck out pinch-hitter Joe Musgrove — a starting pitcher by trade — with two on in the bottom of the 10th.
“It felt like the Twilight Zone in a lot of ways,” Counsell said.
Aguilar took advantage of just his second start since mid-June to hit his sixth homer of the season and drive in three runs. Counsell re-inserted Aguilar into the starting lineup in hopes of giving the offense a jolt after the Brewers were shut out on consecutive days by Cincinnati.
The first baseman responded by ending Milwaukee’s 26-inning scoreless drought with an RBI single in the fourth off Pirates starter Steven Brault then provided some insurance with a two-run shot to the bleachers in left field in the eighth.
The Brewers arrived in Pittsburgh coming off a listless series in Cincinnati in which they dropped three of four as the gap between first and fifth in the tight Central shrank to 3 1/2 games. Counsell took Yasmani Grandal out of the leadoff spot, dropped Mike Moustakas from third to cleanup and gave Aguilar — an All-Star in 2018 — a start in place of Eric Thames.
Aguilar came in hitting .203 on the season, but collected just his second multiple-hit game since May 12. He ripped a single to right field with two outs in the fourth to give the Brewers their first run since the sixth inning of an 11-inning loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday.
The Brewers appeared to be in good shape after Josh Hader wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and a four-run eighth pushed Milwaukee’s lead to five.
RESILIENT PIRATES
Bell, who will compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday night in Cleveland, now has 27 home runs on the season and five in his last five games. Adam Frazier finished with three hits and is batting .619 (13 of 21) in July. Pittsburgh has dropped two straight following a stretch in which it went 12-5 to get back into the NL Central race. Despite the loss, Bell believes Pittsburgh’s comeback will pay off going forward.
“I think it sends a message to them it doesn’t matter what the score is,” Bell said. “We’re right there knocking on the door.”
BRAULT INJURED
Brault exited after walking Arcia leading off the fifth with discomfort in his left (throwing) shoulder. Brault, coming off a June in which he posted a 2.52 ERA after injuries forced him to join Pittsburgh’s starting rotation full-time, allowed one run on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
“It was just tight after every inning,” Brault said. “And in that fifth inning I wasn’t able to get to the point where I needed to be. It was obvious seeing my velocity drop.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: LF Ryan Braun’s sore right knee is catching up with him. The 35-year-old said he initially hurt the knee during the 2018 playoffs and irritated the injury while making a sliding catch in Cincinnati on Tuesday. The 2011 National League MVP didn’t start on Friday but did leg out a double to center as a pinch hitter in the seventh.
Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli (concussion) is open to switching positions in an effort to help the team. Cervelli hasn’t played since taking a broken bat to the chin against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 25.
UP NEXT
Brewers: Adrian Houser (2-2, 3.26 ERA) is 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA while working as an “opener” this season. Houser pitches a season-high five innings against Cincinnati on Monday.
Pirates: Dario Agrazal (1-0, 2.70) will make his third major-league start on Saturday in place of Trevor Williams, who was placed on the paternity list Friday evening.
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Frazier stays hot, leads Pirates by listless Cubs 5-1
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle didn’t need to check the analytics before writing down Adam Frazier’s name in the leadoff spot before Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
Watching Frazier tie a major league record by roping four doubles the night before gave Hurdle all the evidence he needed to know his second baseman was in a good place, one he seems intent on staying in indefinitely.
Frazier backed up his big night by going 4 for 4 — including a three-run shot off Mike Montgomery shortly after a long rain delay — and scored three runs to lead the Pirates to a 5-1 victory.
Frazier spent the first two months of the season in the leadoff spot before ceding it to rookie Kevin Newman, a move necessitated by a power dip, one that Frazier is intent on putting in the rearview mirror.
When Frazier ripped a single leading off the seventh, it gave him a hit in seven straight at-bats, becoming the first Pirate to reach that milestone since Freddy Sanchez did it on May 25-26, 2009. Frazier is 9 for 10 — with five doubles and a homer — through the first two games of a crucial homestand for Pittsburgh, which is trying to stay in the NL Central race.
“I feel comfortable right now hitting,” Frazier said. “(Hitting coach) Rick (Eckstein) and I have been working the past few days. I feel like I’m on to something so. If it’s leadoff or whatever, it doesn’t matter. It’s just you and the pitcher. Go hit.”
Starling Marte had two hits for the Pirates and Josh Bell picked up his major-league leading 78th RBI on a sacrifice fly as Pittsburgh backed up an 18-run outburst against Chicago to pull within two games of .500 (41-43) for the first time since June 2.
Frazier led off the bottom of the first with a single off Kyle Hendricks (7-6), doubled off Hendricks again in the third, then took Montgomery into the seats above the Clemente Wall in right field shortly after a two-hour, five-minute rain delay to give Pittsburgh a five-run lead it never came close to squandering while winning for the ninth time in 13 games.
“Talking about a shot in the arm to start off the series the last two nights, what is he now, 9 for 10? Crazy,” Hurdle said. “Really good. Special.”
The Cubs managed just six hits against starter Joe Musgrove and five relievers and didn’t get a runner past first base until a two-out double by Addison Russell in the eighth. Willson Contreras hit an RBI double in the ninth against Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vazquez to avoid the shutout.
Chicago has dropped three straight and four of five to remain a game behind first-place Milwaukee in the Central, where all five teams are separated by 5 ½ games.
“We’re obviously not playing the kind of baseball we want right now,” Hendricks said. “I think it starts with making some better pitches. We’re just not making the big pitch when we need to and getting behind early.”
Hendricks, making his first start since going on the injured list on June 15 with right shoulder inflammation, ran into early trouble. Frazier laced the third pitch he saw from Hendricks into center field. Marte followed two batters later with a single of his own and Bell’s drive to right field easily scored Frazier to put the Pirates up. Pittsburgh pushed the lead to 2-0 in the third when Frazier led off with a double and scored when Marte doubled to right.
Hendricks gave up two runs in three innings with a walk and four strikeouts for Chicago, which has dropped three straight and four of five.
“I left a change-up to Frazier and then I was trying to run one in on Marte with a fastball,” Hendricks said. “Those two got me, but other than that I thought my fastball command was better than expected, change-up was pretty good. It’s just good to be back out there.”
Dillion Maples came on for Hendricks in the fourth but was pulled after a walk and a two-out pinch-hit by Steven Brault — a starting pitcher by trade. Cubs manager Joe Maddon opted to bring in the left-handed Montgomery to face the left-handed Frazier and Frazier responded by drilling his fourth home run of the season.
“Frazier, that’s as hot as you can get right now,” Maddon said. “So that was unfortunate. After that, we just couldn’t muster any offense.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: An MRI exam confirmed LHP Cole Hamels is dealing with a strained left oblique but nothing more serious. Hamels will undergo treatment this week and the team will re-evaluate his status after the All-Star break.
UP NEXT
Cubs: Yu Darvish (2-4, 4.98 ERA) looks for his first victory since April 27 on Wednesday. Darvish had a streak of 10 straight no-decisions end in a loss to Atlanta last week.
Pirates: Chris Archer (3-6, 5.50) is scheduled to make his 15th start of the season on Wednesday. Archer left a victory over Milwaukee last Friday after four innings due to discomfort in his left hip.
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Local product and Blackhawk Grad Brendan Mc Kay made his Major league debut today, Saturday June 29, 2019. McKay was called up from the Tampa Bay Ray’s AAA minor league affiliate Durham Bulls to pitch against the Texas Rangers. McKay made the most out of his opportunity and pitch 6 scoreless innings of one hit ball. He also struck out three and walked only one. The Ray’s took a 3-0 lead in the Second inning after a Joey Wendle’s RBI double and a two run blast by Avisail Garcia. At the time of this article being written McKay was in line to get his first Major League win as the Ray’s have a 5-0 lead going to the 8th inning after adding two more runs on the bottom of the 7th inning.

Update: 7:10 p.m. EDT. The Ray’s defeated the Rangers 5-2 giving McKay his first Major League win in his first appearance.

Newman homers, Pirates rally late to beat Brewers 3-2
By RICH ROVITO Associated Press
MILWAUKEE (AP) — After back-to-back wins in which the Pittsburgh Pirates scored in double digits, they had to scratch out a victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kevin Newman homered and extended his hitting streak to 18 games, and the Pirates rallied with two late runs to beat the Brewers 3-2 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.
“Tonight, was a perfect indication of how good things can happen when you put the ball into play and win a game with two runs coming on infield ground balls and situational RBIs,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
The Pirates tied it in the eighth when Bryan Reynolds led off with a walk off reliever Junior Guerra and later scored on a fielder’s choice. In the ninth, Elias Diaz drew a one-out walk off Jeremy Jeffress (1-2) and moved to third on Jose Osuna’s single. Diaz scored when the Brewers failed to turn a double play on a comebacker to Jeffress.
“I think we should go home on that one,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “There may have been a double play on a good turn and throw, but the safer play is the runner at third.”
Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vázquez (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings to help the Pirates won for the seventh time in eight games. Four relievers held the Brewers scoreless over the final five innings.
The Pirates, who have scored at least 10 runs in three out of their last four, generated little offense against Milwaukee starter Jhoulys Chacín. The right-hander, is winless since April 30, gave up six hits and one run in five innings in his longest outing since May 25.
“I thought Jhoulys pitched well,” Counsell said. “He gave us a good chance.”
Chris Archer’s wild pitch allowed Yasmani Grandal to score from third with the game’s first run. Eric Thames doubled to drive in another to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Newman hit a solo homer in the third, his fifth of the season, off Chacín to extend the longest active hitting streak in the majors.
“I feel like my approach is good I’m just trying to go up there and hit the ball hard,” Newman said.
Archer was pulled after four innings as a precaution after experiencing left hip discomfort while swinging at a pitch in the fourth. He gave up three hits and two runs while striking out six and walking two.
“It doesn’t feel great,” Archer said. “If I thought it was something I could fight through and still get good results, I would have stayed out there.”
ROSTER MOVES
Milwaukee recalled 2B Keston Hiura and INF/OF Tyler Saladino from Triple-A San Antonio. 3B Travis Shaw was optioned to San Antonio and INF/OF Hernán Pérez was designated for assignment. Hiura started at second and Saladino at shortstop.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli rejoined the team in Milwaukee but hasn’t been activated from the concussion injured list. … SS Erik González (factured left clavicle) began a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday. Gonzalez, who was injured in a collision with CF Starling Marte in April, went 0 for 3 in Indianapolis’ game at Gwinnett.
Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 26, with fluid on his right elbow. … RHP Corbin Burnes was recalled from Triple-A San Antonio. Burnes pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
ROOKIE RECORD
Newman’s hitting streak ties him with Neil Walker (2010) and Rennie Stennett (1971) for the longest by a Pittsburgh rookie. Bryan Reynolds, another Pirates’ rookie, had a 17-game hitting streak earlier this season.
SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS
The Brewers have dropped eight of their last 11 and fell to 3-5 on the 10-game homestand. “We’ve got to win baseball games,” Counsell said. “Right now, we’re not getting consistent performance from all areas.”
SHARED DUTIES
Saladino and Orlando Arcia, who has been the everyday shortstop, are likely to split time in the coming games, Counsell said. “Tyler Saladino’s going to play,” he said. “I think at least for a while here we’re going to share some time at shortstop.”
UP NEXT
Pirates: Jordan Lyles (5-3, 3.64 ERA), who has been out with left hamstring tightness, is expected to come off the injured list to start the second game of the series. Lyles is 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA in 14 career games (nine starts) against the Brewers.
Brewers: Brandon Woodruff (9-2, 4.01) will make his 17th start and third against the Pirates this season. He is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in five career games against Pittsburgh.
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Bell homers again as Pirates cruise past Astros 10-0
By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) — Josh Bell homered for the second straight game as one of five home runs by Pittsburgh as the Pirates routed the Houston Astros for the second game in a row with a 10-0 win on Thursday.
Former Astro Joe Musgrove (6-7) threw six scoreless innings for the win and Kevin Newman, Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte and Jacob Stallings added home runs for the Pirates to send Houston to its ninth loss in 11 games.
The Pirates picked up where they left off in Wednesday night’s 14-2 rout of Houston when Newman sent Brad Peacock’s first pitch of the game into the seats in left field for his first career leadoff homer. He has a career-long 17-game hitting streak, which is the longest active streak in the majors.
Houston starter Brad Peacock (6-6) allowed six runs in three innings, a game after Framber Valdez also made an early exit after the Pirates jumped on him for six runs through the first three.
There were two outs in the first inning when an RBI double by Colin Moran made it 2-0. Pittsburgh extended the lead to 4-0 when Dickerson, who tied a career high with four hits on Wednesday, homered to left field.
Marte started the third with a bunt single before Bell launched his 22nd homer onto the concourse in left-center to make it 6-0.
Marte opened the fifth inning with a home run off Cy Sneed, who was making his major league debut, and Stallings collected his first career home run when he added a solo shot with one out in the sixth.
Musgrove, traded to the Pirates in the deal that brought Gerrit Cole to Houston, picked up the win for the Astros in relief in Game 5 of the 2017 World Series. He allowed nine hits in his first meeting with his former team, but they were all singles to allow him to keep Houston off the board.
The Astros remain firmly in first place in the AL West, but are in the midst of a tough stretch where their pitching outside of Justin Verlander and Cole has struggled. Houston went 1-6 on a road trip against Cincinnati and the New York Yankees, before losing two of three in this series.
Jacob Stallings added an RBI single for Pittsburgh in the eighth and Newman made it 10-0 with a run-scoring double.
Sneed allowed seven hits and four runs in six innings to save Houston’s taxed bullpen after being called up from Triple-A Round Rock before the game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: LF Yordan Alvarez left the game after the third inning because of discomfort in his left knee. … RHP Joe Smith (Achilles tendon) will pitch at Round Rock on Friday as he continues a rehabilitation assignment.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Chris Archer (3-6, 5.56 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series at Milwaukee on Friday night. Archer allowed just two hits and one run in five innings in his previous game against San Diego but did not factor in the decision.
Astros: LHP Wade Miley (6-4, 3.51) is scheduled to start for Houston to start a series against Seattle on Friday night. Miley allowed four runs in five innings in a loss to the Yankees in his previous start.
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Newman’s walk caps off Pittsburgh rally
By CHRIS MUELLER Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kevin Newman walked with the bases loaded in the 11th inning to cap a four-run rally as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Diego Padres 11-10 on Sunday.
The Pirates rallied from three-run deficits in the ninth and 11th innings to earn the series weep and improve their winning streak to five.
Jacob Stallings hit a pitch-hit, two-run single to tie the game at 10. The Pirates then loaded the bases before Newman’s sharp eye ended the four-plus hour affair. Francisco Liriano (2-1) earned the win, while Matt Wisler, who entered the game with one out in the 11th, took the loss.
After San Diego led 7-4 following an eighth-inning two-run single from Manny Machado, closer Kirby Yates — who was previously 26 for 26 in save situations — allowed three runs on three hits and a walk.
With runners on second and third, Newman started the comeback with an RBI single off Yates that scored Dîaz. Bryan Reynolds drove in Adam Frazier, and Melky Cabrera scored Newman on a dribbling ground-out to the pitcher two batters later to force the extras.
Pirates starter Steven Brault lasted five innings, giving up three runs (three earned) and six hits. Joey Lucchesi gave up four runs (four earned) and six hits on 86 pitches (56 strikes) over five innings.
Fernando Tatîs Jr. drove in a pair of RBIs and scored three runs. He tied the game in the sixth inning with an RBI single off Clay Holmes, and later scored on a two-out RBI single to right from Eric Hosmer as the Padres pulled ahead 5-4.
Tatîs Jr. went 3 for 4 with two walks, but it was the rookie’s legs that put the Padres on the board first. After reaching third, Tatîs Jr. tagged up on Hunter Renfroe’s pop-fly at the edge of the outfield grass near second base, and snuck his left arm just past Elias Dîaz’s outstretched glove to swipe home plate. He was initially ruled out, but the play was overturned after an official review.
Newman extended his hit streak to 14 games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: General Manager Neal Huntington told reporters before the game that Francisco Cervelli “could very well” begin a minor league rehab assignment next week. Cervelli has not been medically cleared from the concussion he suffered on June 21.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (2-1, 4.12 ERA) will start on Tuesday as the Pirates begin a three-game series with the AL West-leading Astros.
Padres: LHP Logan Allen (1-0, 0.00 ERA), coming off seven scoreless innings in his first major league start, will take the mound against Baltimore on Tuesday to begin a two-game set.