Bucs edge Brewers in 10 innings
MILWAUKEE- Jack Wilson hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates overcame another blown save by Mike Williams to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-7 Tuesday night. Trailing 8-6, Milwaukee put runners on first and second with two out in the 10th. John Vander Wal singled off Salomon Torres, scoring Scott Podsednik, but center fielder Kenny Lofton’s strong throw got Geoff Jenkins at third to end the game.
Matt Stairs started the winning rally with a two-out single off Mike DeJean (2-7). Wilson followed with his fifth homer of the season.
The Pirates were extended to extra innings when Williams (1-3) gave up a two-run homer to Wes Helms with one out in the 10th. Williams, who was selected to the NL All-Star team, blew his fifth save in 29 chances and increased his ERA to 6.62.
Joe Beimel got one out in the bottom of the tenth before giving up a single to Podsednik and a walk to Jenkins. Torres finished for his second save.
Pirates starter Josh Fogg allowed three runs on five hits in six innings, retiring 11 straight at one point.
Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the second, when Randall Simon reached on Richie Sexson’s fielding error and later scored on Wilson’s sacrifice fly.
Aramis Ramirez added a two-run double in the third, Jason Kendall hit an RBI single in the fifth, and a solo homer by Matt Stairs in the sixth made it 5-0.
Sexson’s three-run homer in the sixth, his 24th, started Milwaukee’s comeback.
Kenny Lofton and Eddie Perez traded solo homers in the seventh to make it 6-4.
Milwaukee starter Matt Kinney allowed five runs_four earned_on eight hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out five.
NOTES: Brewers LHP Glendon Rusch (1-11, 8.61 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Pirates, hoping to snap a career-high 10-game losing streak. He is 1-6 lifetime against Pittsburgh, but beat them April 8 for his lone victory this season. … Kendall extended his hitting streak to 13 games … Jenkins recorded his 10th outfield assist of the season.