Tyler Thornburg made another bid for a permanent spot in the starting rotation, allowing the Pittsburgh Pirates 2 runs and 6 hits in six innings. But the bullpen allowed the Pirates to widen the gap and the Brewers offense was nowhere to be found in a 5-2 loss at Miller Park on Monday afternoon.
Thornburg left the game trailing 2-1. He’s allowed a total of three earned runs in four starts this season as his ERA dropped to 1.13.
Thornburg struggled in the minors, going 0-9 with a 5.79 ERA over 15 starts at Triple-A Nashville, but he’s turned things around in Milwaukee.
Neil Walker clubbed a 3-run homer in the seventh and Charlie Morton pitched seven strong innings as the Pirates moved one game ahead of St. Louis, which lost earlier in the day at Cincinnati. It’s the fourth straight win for Morton (7-3). He’s allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, going 4-0 with a 1.71 ERA and is 6-1 with a 2.90 ERA since the all-star break.
Game two of the series is tonight. Yovani Gallardo (10-9, 4.39) pitches for the Brewers. The Pirates counter with Gerrit Cole (6-7, 3.80).
