Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Garrett Jones doubled in Akinori Iwamura with the go-ahead run in the top of the 14th inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the rubber match of a three-game series at Miller Park.
Pirates’ Garrett Jones Hits RBI Double In 14th To Beat Brewers
Jones finished 2-for-7, but struck out four times, Andrew McCutchen went 4- for-6 with a pair of solo homers for Pittsburgh, which claimed its first series win at Milwaukee since taking two of three from July 24-26, 2006. Ryan Doumit clubbed pinch-hit game-tying homer in the bottom of the ninth off Trevor Hoffman to force the game into extra innings. The Pirates have now won two straight games since dropping the previous seven.
Paul Maholm tossed seven innings, yielding seven hits, four runs and five walks, while fanning six. D.J. Carrasco earned the win for throwing three scoreless innings of relief.
Carlos Gomez hit a two-run homer and Corey Hart added a solo shot for the Brewers, who have dropped five of their last six.
Chris Narveson did not factor in the decision after allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts over five innings. The left-hander replaced Jeff Suppan in the starting rotation after Suppan went 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA in his first two starts of the season.
With the Pirates down 4-3, Hoffman came on to work the ninth and served up a game-tying lead-off homer to Doumit that just cleared the right-field wall. The Brewers closer did allow a two-out walk to Iwamura, but retired Andy LaRoche on a pop out. Milwaukee went quietly in the home half off Joel Hanrahan to force the game into extra innings.
Claudio Vargas was summoned to work the top of the 10th and McCutchen greeted him by lining a first-pitch fastball over the left-field wall. After the right-hander got out of some two-out trouble, Octavio Dotel took the hill for the home portion and struck out Gomez, before giving up a double to Ryan Braun. Price Fielder was then walked intentionally and Casey McGehee grounded an RBI single up the middle to even things at 5-5.
Pinch-hitter Jim Edmonds flied out and Gregg Zaun walked to load the bases before Alcides Escobar popped out to end the inning.
Pittsburgh had a scoring threat turned aside in the 12th and the Brewers bid to end the game in the 13th. Edmonds walked and stole second then after Escobar singled to left, Lastings Milledge threw out Edmonds at the plate to keep the game tied.
Iwamura led off the top of the 14th with a base hit and after the next two batters were retired, Jones doubled into the right-field corner, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Milledge was then walked intentionally and Parra struck out Jeff Clement to prevent further damage. Carrasco retired the side in order in the bottom half to secure the win.
Pittsburgh put up a three-spot in the top of the first inning. Iwamura led off with a base hit before LaRoche and McCutchen followed with back-to-back homers to left.
The lead proved to be short-lived as Gomez hit a two-run shot to left in the home half. Braun then singled, hustled to third on a ground ball and scored on a wild pitch to even things at 3-3.
Hart's lead-off homer to right-center in the fourth put the Brewers up by a run and the lead would hold up thanks to some rock solid bullpen work by Carlos Villanueva, Todd Coffey and LaTroy Hawkins, who bridged things until Hoffman took over in the ninth.
LaRoche and pinch-hitter Ryan Church were ejected in the ninth and 10th innings, respectively, by D.J. Reyburn for arguing balls and strikes...Iwamura finished with three hits and scored twice...Pittsburgh finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12...Milwaukee went 3-for-9 with RISP and left 10.
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