Brewers 7, Pirates 5: Gary Sánchez turns 102 mph heat around for clutch go-ahead home run
PITTSBURGH -- Nobody has caught more pitches from Aroldis Chapman in the fireballer's career than Gary Sánchez.
None of those came with the Milwaukee Brewers, yet that's precisely who benefited from Sánchez's familiarity Thursday afternoon at PNC Park.
With two outs and two strikes while trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates by a run, Sánchez took an elevated fastball from Chapman and took it the other way for a go-ahead two-run home run to lift the Brewers to a 7-5 win.
The Brewers earned a series split thanks in large part to the heroics at the dish from Sánchez against his former teammate while with the New York Yankees.
Gary Sánchez pops go-ahead home run
With two outs and facing an 0-2 count against Chapman, Sánchez cranked a go-ahead, opposite-field home run. Sánchez took a high 102 mph fastball that was off the plate and put it into the seats in right field for a 6-5 lead.
It was the fastest pitch that a Brewers player has hit for a home run in the pitch tracking era.
Struggling hitters come through for Brewers
Jake Bauers and Oliver Dunn continue to get regular playing time, especially against right-handed pitching, but have yet to fully get going at the plate. On Thursday, each came through in a big spot despite missing some other opportunities throughout the contest.
Bauers drove in a run with a single in the third, then added another hit in the ninth as the Brewers looked to pad their one-run lead. Dunn was the one to provide the insurance by punching a single through the right side to put Milwaukee up, 7-5.
Before their hits in the ninth, Dunn was 3 for his last 28 with 12 strikeouts, while Bauers was 3 for 19 with seven strikeouts.
Exchange of doubles (and leads) in the fifth
On the day of the NFL draft, Pirates leftfielder Jack Suwinski couldn't complete the process of a diving catch on a sinking Rhys Hoskins line drive, fumbling the ball as he landed on the ground. It resulted in a double to score William Contreras from second base and put Milwaukee up, 4-3, in the fifth.
But the Pirates got the lead right back thanks in part to a two-run double of their own. Suwinski lofted a ball off the top of the 21-foot fence in right field to score Joey Bart, who had just drawn a two-out walk, then Jared Triolo's single to right put Pittsburgh back in front.
With some help, Brewers manufacture runs to tie game
Sal Frelick and William Contreras walked to lead off the third, then following a Willy Adames strikeout, Bauers rifled a single to right to score Frelick. Contreras was caught between second and third when the throw home was cut off by first baseman Rowdy Tellez, but some indecision by Tellez allowed Contreras to slide in before the throw to third.
That proved to be important when Hoskins followed with a single to right that caromed off the glove of a diving Bryan Reynolds to tie the game, 3-3.
Joey Bart puts the Brewers in an early hole
Freddy Peralta against Mitch Keller was the marquee pitching matchup of the series on paper. In reality, maybe not so much. After Contreras took Keller deep in the top of the first, Peralta allowed a no-doubt three-run blast to center field to Bart. The resurgent Bart has three homers in his first 20 at-bats with the Pirates in 2024.
William Contreras opens up the scoring
Contreras didn't take long to ignite a baseball on a chilly afternoon in Pittsburgh. As the second batter of the game against Pirates starter Mitch Keller, Contreras unloaded for a 448-foot home run at 114.4 mph off the bat to put the Brewers up, 1-0.
It was Contreras' fifth homer of the year and raised his RBI total to 22. He went on to reach in each of his first three plate appearances.
Brewers time, TV, radio
The Brewers game starts at 11:35 a.m. Thursday.
TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620 and a state network
Brewers lineup
Sal Frelick RF
William Contreras C
Willy Adames SS
Jake Bauers 1B
Rhys Hoskins DH
Oliver Dunn 3B
Brice Turang 2B
Joey Wiemer LF
Freddy Peralta SP
Pirates lineup
Bryan Reynolds RF
Rowdy Tellez 1B
Joey Bart C
Jack Suwinski LF
Jared Triolo 3B
Oneil Cruz SS
Mitch Keller
What is the Brewers record?
The Milwaukee Brewers are 15-8.
Brewers schedule
Brewers vs. Yankees, 7:10 p.m. Friday. Milwaukee RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 2.08) vs. New York Yankees RHP Luis Gil (1-1, 2.75). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin Extra. Radio – FM 94.5.
Brewers vs. Yankees, 6:10 p.m. Saturday. Milwaukee RHP Joe Ross (1-2, 4.05) vs. New York Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón (1-1, 2.70). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM 620.
Brewers vs. Yankees, 1:10 p.m. Sunday. Milwaukee RHP Tobias Myers (0-1, 1.80) vs. New York Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (2-1, 2.93). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM 620.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers 7, Pirates 5: Gary Sánchez provides clutch go-ahead home run
