PITTSBURGH _ The Pirates scored six runs Wednesday, more than in their previous five games combined.
They needed them all.
Adam Frazier smacked a walk-off home run off Brewers closer Corey Knebel in the ninth inning as the Pirates snapped a seven-game skid with a 6-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. The Pirates (69-84) had lost 12 of their previous 13 games. They first took a lead with a three-run third inning, ending a streak of 25 consecutive scoreless innings, and came back late.
Left-hander Steven Brault started and was scheduled to pitch five innings, after which right-hander Tyler Glasnow would piggy-back _ essentially using two starters in the same game _ and cover a couple innings. Brault did his part. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk, the damage being done on two solo home runs, and handed the ball to Glasnow after the fifth.
Glasnow failed to do his job. He failed to do a whole lot of anything, really. In 1 1/3 innings, Glasnow faced six hitters and walked four. He allowed no hits but allowed two runs, throwing only eight of 25 pitches for strikes. Glasnow, who the Pirates intend to give another start before the season ends, watched his ERA climb Wednesday night from 7.89 to 8.02.
Since returning from Class AAA Indianapolis, where he had a 1.93 ERA in 15 starts, Glasnow has given up seven runs in four innings, with four hits and 10 walks.
On the mound for Milwaukee was right-hander Aaron Wilkerson, making his first major league start. The 28-year-old Wilkerson is a wonderful story. Undrafted out of college, he spent five months working overnight shifts in a grocery story before catching on in independent ball. But after a smooth start Wednesday, the Pirates bounced him with three runs in the third inning.
Before the Pirates broke through in the third, their scoreless streak was threatened yet extended in the first inning when Starling Marte, who had doubled, was thrown out by catcher Manny Pina while attempting to advance to third base on a ball in the dirt. It wasn't the only time Wednesday night Marte was thrown out on the bases. Later, he was caught stealing.
The Pirates had been waiting for an inning such as the third for more than a week. When it arrived, they trailed by two runs after solo home runs from Jesus Aguilar and Domingo Santana. Elias Diaz sparked the rally with a double high off the center-field wall. Jordy Mercer walked. Brault faked a bunt and hit a fielder's choice grounder, forcing out the lead runner.
With one away, Frazier scorched a two-run double off the top of the Clemente Wall, tying the score and ending the Pirates' streak of scoreless innings at 25. The next batter, Marte, bounced a run-scoring, go-ahead single to center field. Brewers manager Craig Counsell replaced Wilkerson, snipping his first start after three runs and five baserunners in 2 1/3 innings.
It marked the first time in 65 innings, since Sept. 11, the Pirates closed an inning with a lead.
The Brewers bullpen locked in _ right-hander Jeremy Jeffress got Marte and Andrew McCutchen to bounce out with the bases loaded in the fifth _ and the offense attacked Glasnow. Or waited him out, rather. Santana walked in the sixth. Aguilar, Pina and pinch-hitter Neil Walker walked consecutively to start the seventh, chasing Glasnow.
Reliever A.J. Schugel was unable to extinguish the fire. Pinch-hitter Eric Thames tied the score with an RBI opposite-field single. After the Pirates intentionally walked pinch-hitter Eric Sogard, pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt _ the fifth offensive substitution of the inning _ took a curveball for a called strike and then watched four consecutive balls as Schugel walked in the go-ahead run.
In the eighth, Knebel was summoned with two outs after McCutchen doubled off reliever Anthony Swarzak. David Freese tapped a dribbler left of the mound. Knebel reached the ball in time but misfired to first base, his throwing error allowing McCutchen to score the tying run.
Knebel carried the game into the ninth. Frazier ended it there.
