Milwaukee Brewers defeat Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 to grab 2-0 lead in series – MLB Update
The Milwaukee Brewers shutout the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 in the second outing at Miller Park in Milwaukee on Saturday, August 13 to get a 2-0 lead in the three-game series.
Brewers’ pitching depth joined hands to write this win collectively for their manager Ron Roenicke. Starter Marco Estrada tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just a single hit and punched out five batters with gritty 64 pitches to get his third win of
the season. It was the second straight win for Estrada and it has improved his confidence, which he has lost due to seven humiliating games in the 2011 regular season.
Reliever Takashi Saito did not allow any hit in the sixth inning to get his seventh hold of the season. LaTroy Hawkins remained hitless in the seventh inning and snatched his 18th hold of the season while Francisco Rodriguez gave away just one
hit in the eighth inning and struck-out two batters to write his eighth hold of the season. Closer John Axford carried his dazzling performance and threw a one hitter ninth inning to get his 34th save of the season.
Not only Axford’s team-mates and manager praised his class but the Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle also tipped his cap off for him.
"He's got a quality fastball, big-time breaking ball," Hurdle said. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to produce when we had the opportunity. We needed to find a way to score that run and we did not do it. You give their closer some credit, but that's an opportunity
that we need to cash in."
Pirates’ starter Kevin Correia might have gained his 13th win if he did not allow a single in the bottom of the second inning. That hit cost him his eleventh loss while 62nd loss to the Pirates in 2011 season. Although after this inning,
he retaliated and held the Brewers scoreless in his later innings. He tossed just over six innings and allowed seven hits over 91 pitches.
Being 2-0 down in the series now will definitely create more pressure over the struggling Pirates batting line. The Brewers on the other hand have gained their stunning momentum to grab another series sweep in 2011 regular season.
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