Recap: Milwaukee vs. Pittsburgh
Sports Network | September 23, 2008
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder belted a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a 7-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series at Miller Park.
Mike Cameron added two RBI for the Brewers, who have won two straight following a three-game skid and sit one game behind the New York Mets, who lead the standings in the wild card race. Ryan Braun posted two hits, two runs scored and an RBI in the win.
Nyjer Morgan finished with four hits and two RBI for the Pirates, who have lost four of their last five games overall. Rookie Steve Pearce added a two- run homer in the loss.
With the scored tied 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Pittsburgh reliever T.J. Beam (2-2) took the hill. He got two quick outs, but Braun reached first base on a fielding miscue before Fielder unloaded on a fastball and put it into the bleachers in right-center field as the Brewers celebrated at home plate.
Salomon Torres (7-5) picked up the win with an inning of scoreless relief.
The Brewers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Cameron led off and reached first base on an error before Braun belted a triple to deep center field. On the play, Braun was able to cross the plate due to another error, this one a throwing miscue by Nate McLouth.
Three runs by the visitors in the top of the second made it a 3-2 contest. Doug Mientkiewicz, Andy LaRoche and Jeff Karstens all drew walks to load the bases before Morgan's two-out single scored a pair of runs. After Freddy Sanchez followed with an RBI double, the Bucs led by a run.
Pitching was the story through the middle innings, but the bats finally came back to life in the home seventh. Pittsburgh reliever Jesse Chavez entered the game with the leadoff runner, Craig Counsell, on first base following a walk. Chavez surrendered a single to pinch-hitter Mike Lamb and Cameron drilled a two-run double to left field for a 4-3 Milwaukee lead.
Pearce's two-run homer in the top of the eighth put Pittsburgh ahead, 5-4, but Milwaukee tied it up in the bottom of the stanza via Jason Kendall's RBI double.
This marked Milwaukee's 10th straight win over Pittsburgh...Pirates starter Karstens, who had lost each of his last six starts, did not factor in the decision in this one. He allowed three runs -- one earned -- on five hits with six strikeouts in six-plus innings. He pitched to one batter in the seventh...For Milwaukee, Dave Bush allowed three runs on five hits over five innings...The Pirates left nine runners on base...Attendance was 36,612.
