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Pirates 8, Brewers 6: Loss is doubly painful as Rhys Hoskins leaves early due to injury

todd rosiak, milwaukee journal sentinel
·4 min read

The Milwaukee Brewers' 8-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field on Monday night was painful on a couple of levels.

Not only did they fall despite a timely and exciting grand slam by Jake Bauers in the eighth inning that turned a yawner of a game into a tight one, they lost a key offensive cog in Rhys Hoskins to an apparent leg injury.

Hoskins appeared to hurt himself after singling in his first at-bat in the second inning and was lifted shortly thereafter. The Brewers made no official announcement regarding his status for the rest of the game.

Box score: Pirates 8, Brewers 6

Milwaukee's bullpen was tagged for five runs in three innings behind starter Colin Rea, while the offense finished 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

Bryan Reynolds had five hits including a homer for the Pirates.

The Brewers' Jake Bauers hits a grand slam home run during the eighth inning against the Pirates on Monday night.
The Brewers' Jake Bauers hits a grand slam home run during the eighth inning against the Pirates on Monday night.

Jake Bauers delivers the big blow

Blake Perkins and Gary Sánchez each singled off Josh Fleming to open the bottom of the eighth, then Oneil Cruz committed an error on a Joey Ortiz grounder to load the bases.

That brought up Bauers, who took the left-hander to a full count before unloading on a sinker and sending it 398 feet out to right for his first career grand slam.

Andruw Monasterio then drew a walk and stole second with William Contreras at the plate. He was called out on strikes but advanced to third with Yasmani Grandal's throw bounced into center field.

That brought Christian Yelich to the plate, but he struck out against Hunter Stratton.

Joel Payamps came on for the ninth and was promptly greeted by a Bryan Reynolds homer to center, which was his fifth hit in as many at-bats on the night.

Brewers shortstop Willy Adames is tagged out by Pirates second base Jared Triolo while trying to stretch his two-run double in the seventh inning.
Brewers shortstop Willy Adames is tagged out by Pirates second base Jared Triolo while trying to stretch his two-run double in the seventh inning.

Brewers break up the shutout

Keller, pulled after six strong innings and 100 pitches, was replaced by Fleming. He allowed a walk and a single to Contreras -- his third of the game, as he extended his on-base streak to a career-best 21 straight -- and then Willy Adames doubled off the wall in right to drive in both.

Adames was thrown out trying to stretch his two-bagger into a triple, however.

Pittsburgh didn't wait long to get those tallies back, however, as Grandal blasted a two-run homer to right-center off Mitch White in the eighth to make it 7-2.

Bullpen gives up a couple more

Rea gave Milwaukee a quality start – six innings, six hits, three runs and a walk with five strikeouts over 103 pitches.

He was replaced by Thyago Vieira, who retired the first batter he faced and then surrendered four consecutive hits as Pittsburgh extended its lead out to 5-0.

Vieira was then replaced by White, who retired the final two batters of the inning in his Brewers debut.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy stands on the mound after relieving pitcher Thyago Vieira during the seventh inning.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy stands on the mound after relieving pitcher Thyago Vieira during the seventh inning.

Brewers can't break through against Keller

In four of six innings the Brewers collected a pair of hits only to fail to follow up with another two-out hit to push runs across the plate.

Bauers had some especially bad luck as twice he lined shots to right field with a pair on, only to see Bryan Reynolds haul both in for outs.

Rhys Hoskins leaves in the second

Hoskins collected the first hit of the game for the Brewers with a solid single to right field, but he then pulled up gingerly after rounding the base and after a short consultation with head athletic trainer Scott Barringer he was removed from the game.

Hoskins missed all of last season after undergoing knee surgery, but there's no indication yet that this has anything to do with the knee.

Milwaukee had to do a multitude of shuffling to account for the absence of Hoskins at first base, then Pittsburgh got a leadoff single from Andrew McCutchen and RBI double from Reynolds to start the third that made it 3-0.

Pirates jump out to a quick lead

A Reynolds single then two-run homer by Jack Suwinski put Pittsburgh in front of Rea and the Brewers just four batters into the game.

Rowdy Tellez, who grounded out on the first pitch he saw for the third out, received a warm applause from the smallish crowd.

Brewers time, TV, radio

The Brewers game starts at 6:40 p.m. Monday.

TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620 and a state network.

Pirates lineup

Brewers lineup

Brewers schedule

Brewers at vs. Pirates, 6:40 p.m. Tuesday. Milwaukee RHP Joe Ross (1-4, 4.75) vs. Pittsburgh RHP Quinn Priester (0-3, 3.86). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.

Brewers vs. Pirates, 12:10 p.m. Wednesday. Milwaukee LHP Robert Gasser (1-0, 0.00) vs. Pittsburgh LHP Martín Pérez (1-2, 3.60). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.

Off Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pirates 8, Brewers 6: Loss painful as Rhys Hoskins leaves with injury