Pirates put sausage incident behind them, defeat Brewers
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Pirates first baseman Randall Simon was signing autographs instead of swinging at sausages as his team beat the Brewers 5-4. Simon played no part in the game but afterwards gave two autographed bats to a Brewers representative to give to the mascots who fell down as a result of Simon’s swing.
Simon hit an 18-year-old girl in an Italian sausage costume in the Brewers’ popular racing sausages Wednesday night at Miller Park. A 19-year-old in a hot dog costume also fell. Both were treated for scraped knees.
Simon was cited before Thursday’s game for disorderly conduct and fined $432. Prosecutors decided not to file criminal charges.
Simon said he had not talked with the women but had left them messages and wished to apologize to them.
“You have fun with the mascots,” Simon said after the game. “I just wanted to tap the mascot and then have her finish. I did not have a plan to hurt her because I am not that kind of person.”
Simon said he was considering challenging the fine.
Pirates players moved to the back of the dugout prior to the sausage race, but Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon said he gave his players no special instructions to do so.
Pirates teammates described Simon as a prankster who was trying to have fun with the mascot and the crowd.
“It was an unfortunate incident,” said Aramis Ramirez. “Randall was not trying to malaciously hurt the young lady, although it transpired that way.”
Four new people were inside the costumes Thursday. Pirates players moved into the dugout and away from the field as the sausage racers – an oversized bratwurst, hot dog and Italian and Polish sausages – ran past them along the infield warning track between the sixth and seventh innings.
“They’re rounding the Pirates dugout – they’ve made it safely,” said Robb Edwards, the Brewers announcer, to the wild cheers of fans on their feet.
The Italian sausage won the race.
Jeff Suppan (8-7) won the game, pitching a complete game. He gave up eight hits, walked none and struck out nine to help the Pirates earn a split in the four-game series.
McClendon said he didn’t like that Suppan threw a season-high 133 pitches to go the distance, but was happy he was able to give his bullpen some rest.
“It was (Suppan’s) game to win or lose,” he said.
Richie Sexson led off the Brewers’ ninth with a home run. Milwaukee put a runner on second with two outs, but Suppan struck out Royce Clayton to end the game.
Suppan got most of his run support from Ramirez’s three-run home run in the fifth.
Keith Ginter hit two solo home runs for the Brewers.
“It feels good but the goal is for the team to win,” he said. “In both situations, he left breaking balls over the plate and I was able to take advantage of it.”
Rookie Matt Ford (0-2) lasted only 4 1-3 innings and 92 pitches in his third career start.
Brewers manager Ned Yost defended Ford’s performance.
“He didn’t really have a bad outing,” Yost said. “He threw one bad pitch down the middle (to Ramirez). You are talking about a 22-year-old kid. He’s learning. You are developing a young pitcher for the future.”
Reggie Sanders hit a solo homer for the Pirates in the second. Pittsburgh added a run in the sixth when Jeff Reboulet scored on shortstop Clayton’s throwing error.
Clayton also struck out to end the game with the tying run on second base.
“I was just bad,” he said. “I hurt us in every way possible. I basically stunk all day.”
NOTES: Brewers CF Scott Podsednik reached base safely for the 40th consecutive game, the longest such streak in the majors this season. The rookie leadoff hitter hit a single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth inning and followed that up with his 19th stolen base of the year. … Ginter had the first multihomer game of his career. … Ramirez hit his ninth homer, connecting in the fifth inning.