Craig Counsell: Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Zach Davies Major League debut lasted just 4 1/3 innings, but the 22-year-old rookie still made a positive impression, helping the Milwaukee Brewers knock off the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-4 at Miller Park.
Davies, who came to the Brewers in a July 31 trade with Baltimore for Gerardo Parra, was given a quick 3-0 lead. But former Brewer Aramis Ramirez clubbed a three-run homer to tie the game 3-3.
Davies gave up a pair of singles to two of the first three batters he faced in the fifth and with his pitch count climbing, he was removed from the game.
Manager Craig Counsell said, “he did a nice job. He’s got a very athletic delivery, He’s got a plus-changeup, I think we saw that right away. I look forward to seeing him again out there.”
After the Brewers went up 5-3, Ramirez struck again, driving in a fourth run with a ground-rule double to make it 5-4. That would be all of the runs the Pirates would get.
Scooter Gennett delivered a pinch-hit, two-out single to right to increase their lead 8-4. Ryan Braun closed out the scoring with an RBI single.
Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy increased his hitting streak to ten games for the Brewers.
The Brewers have won five straight over the Pirates and will play for the sweep tonight.