Pirates Hold On To Beat Brewers, 9-8
MILWAUKEE (KDKA/AP) -- The Pirates pulled off a rare road win against the Milwaukee Brewers, beating them 9-8 at Miller Park.
Charlie Morton pitched five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and striking out three.
The Pirates (72-88) took an early lead after Alex Presley homered in the first. Then, Pedro Alvarez, Chase d'Arnaud and Presley each hit RBIs in the second.
The Brewers began mounting a comeback, scoring a combined seven runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
During that stretch, Milwaukee's Yuniesky Betancourt had two RBI doubles, Corey Hart drove in a run in addition to Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder.
But the Pirates stayed in the game as well, scoring another three runs after Pedro Alvarez doubled, batting in Xavier Paul and Derek Lee in the fifth.
Garrett Jones tallied a run after Frankie De La Cruz threw a wild pitch in the same inning.
Presley's double in the seventh gave the Pirates an insurance run for the win.
Joel Hanrahan allowed one hit and earned his 40th save.
Milwaukee (94-66) is the best home team in the majors at 55-24, but failed in its first chance to tie the franchise's all-time mark for wins at 95.
The NL Central champions are looking to clinch homefield advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and need to finish ahead of Arizona in the standings.
