Aug 19, 2002 4 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Mike Williams is an effective closer on a team that doesn’t have many games to save. Adam Hyzdu homered and drove in two runs and Williams set a team record with his 35th save, preserving the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 3-2 win Sunday over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Williams, who has had only three save opportunities this month, pitched a perfect ninth inning to break the club mark of 34 saves set by Jim Gott in 1988. Williams has blown only two chances this season.

Williams, who got his 100th career save earlier this season, enjoys the milestones but doesn’t obsess over them.

“When my career is over with, I’ll look back on this day and say, that’s a nice accomplishment,” Williams said. “I just want us to win. If I don’t get another save because we win every game by four runs, so be it. That’s fine.”

Williams was the Pirates’ representative in the All-Star game this year. He has converted 16 consecutive chances, tying the team record he set from April 7-June 28 this year.

“He’s been phenomenal,” Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. “You have to put him up there with (Atlanta’s) John Smoltz and Eric Gagne (Los Angeles) when you talk about the best closers in this league.”

Williams is a converted starter who bounced around the Philadelphia and Kansas City organizations before he signed a minor league deal with the Pirates in 1998. He gradually took over the closer’s role.

“It’s the most fun you can have pitching,” he said. “I’d rather be in the game in the bottom of the ninth more than starting or any other kind of relieving. I’m ready to play every day and hopefully I get to.”

The Pirates won their second consecutive game following a season-worst seven-game losing streak. It’s the first time they’ve won two in a row since beating Colorado July 30-31.

The Brewers ended a 1-5 road trip that started in Philadelphia and saw them score four runs in the five losses.

The lack of offense had manager Jerry Royster upset.

“We win the game today easy if we just execute basic fundamental offense,” Royster said. “We didn’t. We haven’t, and that’s why we’re in the position we’re in.”

The Brewers stranded 11 runners, seven in the first three innings.

“We do everything as bad as possible,” Royster said. “We have a runner at second with nobody out and we don’t move him over. We have a runner on third with less than two out and we don’t get him in.”

He will continue experimenting with the lineup.

“I just have to keep mixing them up and find somebody who’s going to produce,” Royster said. “We haven’t found the guy to step up and knock in the runs.”

Bronson Arroyo (1-1) made his second start of the season and allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings. He was followed by five relievers.

Glendon Rusch (6-13) fell to 0-6 lifetime against the Pirates. He has lost eight of his last nine decisions overall.

Pokey Reese and Jack Wilson opened the Pirates first with singles, and Aramis Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly.

Kevin Young walked and Hyzdu’s single drove in the second run.

Hyzdu, who entered in a 4-for-35 slide, hit his eighth homer in the fourth inning.

Richie Sexson hit his 26th home run for the Brewers in the fifth.

Mark Loretta singled in the second, advanced on an out and scored on Rusch’s single.

NOTES: The Brewers are 4-15 at PNC Park. … Rusch had two hits, giving him 14 for the season. That tops the team record for pitchers set by Jamey Wright last season. … Wilson had three hits, and is 11-for-18 against Rusch. … The Pirates had lost four straight series. … Pirates LF Brian Giles missed his second consecutive game with a strained right calf. The injury forced him to leave Friday’s game in the fifth inning. Armando Rios took Giles’ place in left and took his slump to 3-for-35 with an 0-for-4 day. … There was a 61-minute rain delay in the third. The Pirates have now had 22 rain delays for a total of 24 hours, 10 minutes this season. They’ve had 19 delays at home for 20 hours, 3 minutes.