After losing nine straight games at Miller Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates knocked off the Milwaukee Brewers for the second straight night, 5-3.
Two Jonathan Villar errors led to a five-run sixth inning, which was capped off by Jordy Mercer’s first career grand slam as the Pirates jumped out to a 5-0 lead.
Rookie Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia’s three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, the first of his career, would account for all of the Brewers scoring.
All five of the Pirates runs were unearned, but it’s little consolation for Matt Garza and the Brewers. Garza had Mercer with an 0-2 count, then he caught too much of the plate with the next pitch and Mercer made him pay.
Up to that point, Garza had allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out eight in five shutout innings.
AUDIO: Craig Counsell on Matt Garza :12
AUDIO: Matt Garza said this was a tough outing :17
Garza finished with nine strikeouts, his highest total since May 20, 2015. He fell to 4-6 with the loss.
The Brewers put a pair of runners on base in each of the last two innings, but couldn’t come up with the big hit as they now have dropped the first two games in the four-game series.