Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - Jonathan Lucroy started a crucial double play in the eighth and drove in the game-winning run in the bottom half as the streaking Milwaukee Brewers pulled out a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After beginning a rare 2-6-1 double play to keep the score tied, Lucroy followed consecutive one-out singles by Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez with one of his own, as Braun avoided the tag at home to score the deciding run.
Francisco Rodriguez worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to record his fourth save and close out the Brewers' eighth consecutive win.
Carlos Gomez hit a leadoff home run for the Brewers, while Travis Snider highlighted Pittsburgh's offense with two hits and an RBI.
The Pirates had won three of four before dropping the first two meetings of this three-game series.
Yovani Gallardo put together another quality start for the Brewers but left with the score even at 2-2. The right-hander lasted six innings and allowed two runs on six hits.
"The guys are swinging the bats and the bullpen is doing a great job," Gallardo said, deflecting praise.
Edinson Volquez worked into the seventh and was pulled with runners on second and third and one out, and Tony Watson wiggled out of the jam to keep it tied.
Pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks sent a fly ball to left field that appeared deep enough to score Khris Davis, but Davis did not tag up and was left stranded when Gomez grounded out.
The Pirates countered by running themselves out of a run in the eighth. With runners on the corners and one out, Andrew McCutchen skyed a ball behind the plate that Lucroy caught. Snider broke from first to second, and Lucroy threw to the bag just as Starling Marte made his way home. Jean Segura cut off Lucroy's throw and fired back home, where reliever Jim Henderson (1-0) was covering for the inning-ending tag.
"We were trying to steal a run," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "It seemed like a good opportunity to catch them off guard, and we didn't."
Mark Melancon (0-1) yielded the deciding run to take the loss.
Gomez led off the home first with a laser that hit high off the batter's eye in straightaway center for his fourth career leadoff home run.
Davis, who reached on a Pedro Alvarez error, scored on a wild pitch in the second, but the Pirates pulled even in their next at-bat.
Travis Ishikawa led off the inning with a double to deep left and later scored on a groundout by Marte, and Snider tacked on a two-out single that brought around Jordy Mercer.
Game Notes
The Pirates have already played seven one-run games so far (5-2) ... Volquez was charged with two runs -- one earned -- on four hits and two walks ... Gallardo had not given up a run in 12 2/3 innings over his first two starts of the year. His ERA rose to 0.96 ... Gomez's home run was Milwaukee's only extra-base hit.
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