Pirates blow lead, win in 10th inning
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Craig Wilson hit an RBI double in the 10th inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night. Jason Kendall led off the inning with a single off Luis Vizcaino (0-1) and stole second and third to get into scoring position. With two outs, Wilson lined a double to center field to score Kendall for his third RBI of the game.
Jason Boyd (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win, and Jose Mesa the 10th for his eighth save in as many chances. Mesa moved to 20th on the career saves list with 257, passing Todd Worrell.
Milwaukee tied it at 7 in the eighth inning when Lyle Overbay hit a pinch-hit double to the center-field wall to score Gary Bennett, who had singled ahead of him.
Milwaukee trailed 7-1 but scored four runs in the fifth on six singles, including a two-run base hit by Geoff Jenkins.
Ben Grieve’s pinch-hit double in the sixth made it 7-6.
The Pirates took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Wilson’s two-out single. After Wes Obermueller walked the bases full, Wilson’s low liner got by right fielder Brady Clark and all three runners scored. Wilson got credit for two RBIs, with the third scoring on Brady’s error.
Pittsburgh extended its lead to 4-0 in the third on Mackowiak’s two-out solo homer, his fourth.
The Brewers made it 4-1 in the third inning when Mackowiak mishandled Bill Hall’s hard-liner, allowing Gary Bennett to score from third.
The Pirates scored three times in the fourth to chase Obermueller and lead 7-1, with Jack Wilson contributing a two-run double.
Pittsburgh starter Oliver Perez struck out seven and allowed eight hits and five runs in five innings.
Obermueller lasted just three innings, allowing seven runs on five hits and four walks.
NOTES: Obermueller, who had walked only five batters this season, walked three in the first inning as Milwaukee fell behind 3-0. … Perez is the only left-handed starter on the Pirates, and one of only three on Pittsburgh’s staff. … Brewers 3B Wes Helms was hitless in four at-bats to run his hitless streak to 0-for-13. … The Pirates have won five straight road games for the first time since taking seven straight from April 2-17 in 2002. … Brewers closer Dan Kolb retired the first batter he faced in the ninth, but was replaced by Luis Vizcaino when he pulled his right hamstring after establishing a 3-1 count on Tike Redman.