Spencer Horwitz drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double, Bubba Chandler pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in the opener of the four-game series.
Pittsburgh led 4-0 after four innings, but Milwaukee rallied within 4-3 with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth.
The National League Central-leading Brewers, who entered with the best overall record in the majors, dropped to 1-6 this season against the division-rival Pirates.
Chandler (4-8) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking four for his first win since June 25. Gregory Soto followed with a scoreless 1 1/3 innings; Camilo Doval, acquired from the Yankees on Saturday, tossed a perfect eighth; and Mason Montgomery finished for his third save in five opportunities.
Horwitz staked the Pirates to a 3-0 lead in the third with his bases-loaded double off Brendan Sproat (3-7). With two outs, Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds delivered consecutive singles and Esmerlyn Valdez walked. Horwitz cleared the bases with a liner down the right field line.
The Pirates added a run in the fourth when Endy Rodriguez, who went 3-for-4, singled to open and advanced to third on consecutive wild pitches, ending Sproat’s start after 16 batters. Garrett Stallings relieved and issued a one-out walk to Henry Davis. Jake Mangum laid down a perfect bunt single, scoring Rodriguez.
Sproat allowed four runs on five hits in three-plus innings, walking two and striking out four with three wild pitches in a 64-pitch outing. Sproat has not won in five starts since back-to-back victories at the end of June.
The Brewers got on the board in the fifth on a leadoff walk to Jake Bauers and consecutive two-out singles by David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz, who finished with three of Milwaukee’s six hits.
Milwaukee pulled within 4-3 in the sixth. Jackson Chourio walked to open and took third on Bauers’ two-out single. Andrew Vaughn followed with an RBI single, with Bauers continuing around to score his second run on a throwing error by right fielder Valdez.
