As far as Milwaukee Brewers is concerned, it’s always good to see Pittsburgh Pirates come into town.
Combining some powerful passes, enough attack and a great ninth relay, the Brewers remain undefeated this season against their NL Central counterparts at American Family Field after winning 4-3 on Friday night.
Aaron Ashby won only for the second time all year after making a strong start from five runs, traveling four different players as Milwaukee set his record to 4-0 against Pittsburgh at home in 2022.
Result box: Brewers 4, Pirates 3
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Willie Adams also tied Rudi Telles to lead the team with his 17th tally.
And it was Adames who stood out in the pivotal play of the game – saving the Brewers and closer to Josh Hader in ninth.
The Buccaneers had the 1st and 3rd runners with two wins when former Brewer Daniel Vogelbach sent one into the gap in the right center.
The third-place runner, Diego Castillo, scored easily. Kevin Newman, first, finished third and didn’t slow down after Andrew McCutchen hit Adames with a relay throw from the right.
Adames responded with a perfect Victor Caratini throw, and Newman went out a mile to finish the game.
“It really surprised me,” he said of Newman. “Obviously I thought he wasn’t going. When I turned around and saw him running, I threw the ball. It was like, ‘What’s going on?’ Where is he going? “
“Especially with the top of the line-up coming up. I don’t know what the thought process is behind this play.”
The Brewers are clearly going to take it, especially after losing two of three to the Chicago Cubs to start their last home in the first half.
“Your normal watch as a middle player tells you there will be no play,” said manager Craig Konsell. “So, turn around and look. That’s what he did. Then, obviously, you have to get ready to throw it, and he made a perfect throw.”
Meanwhile, Hader let loose in three straight games – uncharted territory for him considering his status as the best in the game. The relay allowed him to score his 26th major league save as a result.
“Look, Josh has been picking us up for a few days and he’s had a great season,” Consell said. “He’s been through a bit where he’s given up on some running, and it’s our job to carry him.
“So we put in a nice defensive display at the end of the game to pick him up. That’s what we have to do. Josh, there’s no one we’d rather go back there. I think every team would say the same.”
The Brewers are now 9-2 against the Pirates this season.
It was Ashby’s second start since he was brought back from the injured list on July 2 as well as his second against the Buccaneers.
His return was a far cry from victory in Pittsburgh, where he was marked for five hits—including a pair of creepers—four runs and a walk with six hits over the course of 3 and 3 innings.
This time he was allowed to throw 10 more pitches (72 in total) and only made one foul, a 0-2 passer that was actually falling and out of the hit zone Diego Castillo was able to run and drive into. center left to give Pirates a 2-1 lead in the fourth game.
Ashby (2-6). whose walk came in his last six, capped his back with a superb hurdle of 95.9mph, a direct shot at him by Brian Reynolds.
He allowed three hits and both ran while hitting three.
“I thought he threw the ball really well,” Consell said. “Running at home wasn’t a bad throw. He’s a ball out of the box. The first three rounds were good as you’ll see. He’s gone five.
“So, it’s another step forward for him today and very encouraging.”
The Brewers took the lead in the second against JT Brubaker in a base-loaded single from Keston Hiura.
Then they were back in the lead for good at the bottom of fourth thanks to a triple RBI by Kolten Wong and a bases loaded single by Jace Peterson, who started double play with bases loaded in the second.
After throwing Hobby Milner 1-2-3 for seventh, Adames drove the bottom of the tire by turning left. It was Homer’s first time playing since he played a Grand Slam in Pittsburgh on July 1.
“I was glad I hit Homer today and did a good swing on the ball,” Adams said. “It felt a little weird because it’s been a minute. It was great to put the barrel on the ball. I hope that turns out to make me hot.”
Devin Williams worked around a pair of starters for eighth, posting his twenty-second MLB-leading run and twenty-third straight point-free appearance, before Hader acted in ninth.
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