Four-run sixth gives Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates – MLB News
The Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, July 15, had a four-run sixth inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates by 4-1 at Miller Park. The majestic 4-1 win also helped the Brewers to win the three-game series 2-1.
It was the Milwaukee Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo who was in an incredibly superb form, tossing some of the best pitches in his seven innings to have career-high 14 strike-outs.
The win was, in effect, a morale booster given the fact that the Brewers will be taking on the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds now.
"It's really like win or go home every game," Gallardo said. "We all know the nine games we have here, the next series with the Cardinals, then the Reds. They're very important."
What was important for Gallardo, who had two strike-outs in every inning apart from the sixth, was his command. With such a strong show of pitching, Gallardo has set himself to be one of the Brewers most dependable starters out there.
"Command was probably the best I've had all year," he said. "That really helped."
If there was any player who did something for the Pittsburgh Pirates, it was Andrew McCutchen, hitting another homer in the fourth inning to give the team 1-0 lead. But the Pirates could not hold that lead. McCutchen now has .560 average in his last 12 games with no less than seven homers.
"He is as good a player as there is in the league," Hurdle said. "He is playing at an elite level, all across the board. He has earned his name being in those (MVP) conversations at this point. But it is still early. We've all got work to do."
It was Ryan Braun who singled to left to level the score in the sixth inning followed by Aramis Ramirez, Rickie Weeks and Martin Maldonado’s respective runs, taking the lead to a safe 4-1. Pirates’ A. J. Burnett gave up four runs in his seven inning spell.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched a shut-out eighth to maintain the lead. Brewers' closer John Axford allowed a hit in the ninth and had a strike-out to conclude the game with a 4-1 win for the Brewers.
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