Self-Inflicted Wounds Sink Pirates vs. Division-Leading Brewers
· Yahoo Sports
PITTSBURGH — The Pirates suffered several self-inflicted wounds as they dropped a 5-1 decision to the Milwaukee Brewers at home. Pittsburgh (75-76) squandered their best opportunity to put a rally together of Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski and never recovered.
Scoring Plays
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Top 2nd, 1-0 MIL: The Brewers made Pittsburgh opener Lake Bachar throw 32 pitches in the second inning, tagging him for three singles and a run. The Pirates drove up Misiorowski’s pitch count in the home half of the inning, putting two runners aboard, but couldn’t scratch any runs across.
Top 6th, 5-0 MIL: Gregory Soto checked into the game in the sixth inning and allowed two walks and two doubles before manager Don Kelly pulled him with one out. Wilber Dotel entered and allowed a two-run single.
Bottom 8th, 5-1 MIL: Brandon Lowe broke up the shutout with his 30th home run of 2026.
Key Moment
The Pirates got to Misiorowski in the fourth with consecutive singles from Nick Gonzales, Ryan O’Hearn and Rafael Flores Jr: Flores’ hit caromed off third baseman David Hamilton into the outfield. Gonzales stopped at third and O’Hearn, hot on his heels, slipped trying to change directions, running into an out and quashing the rally.
Player of the Game
Misiorowski, who struck out seven batters in five innings as one of the finishing touches on a Cy Young campaign.
Stat to Know
Lowe’s home run ties a franchise record for home runs in a single season (171, 1999).
Noteworthy
- Rafael Flores Jr. extended his hitting streak to nine games with a second inning single, the longest streak of his career. He’s the first Pirates catcher to record three or more hits and catch two baserunners stealing in the same game since Jason Kendall in 1999.
- Lowe is the first Pirate to hit 30 home runs since Josh Bell in 2019. He’s the eight player to hit at least 16 homers at PNC Park in a season.
Notable Performances
- Oneil Cruz: 0-for-4 with four strikeouts looking
- Rafael Flores Jr: 4-for-4 with two runners thrown out stealing
- Brandon Lowe: 1-for-4 with a homer
Up Next
The Pirates will continue their home series with the Brewers at 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, sending right-hander Jared Jones (4-6, 4.10 ERA, 100 SO) to the mound against Milwaukee righty Logan Henderson (10-3, 2.34 ERA, 99 SO).
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