The Milwaukee Brewers were all set on cruise control until a disastrous 7th inning that saw the Pirates take a lead and the Brewers failed to capitalize on a chance to answer in the bottom half.
Everything was going to plan. Luis Urias slugged his 10th homer of the season in the 2nd inning, and then the Brewers added more runs in the 5th and 6th on singles from Andrew McCutchen and Keston Hiura. Brandon Woodruff was cruising through 6 and didn't allow a hit until the 5th inning.
Woodruff went back out for the 7th and each of the first 3 hitters for the Pirates swung away at the first pitch and connected for a couple of bloop hits and all of a sudden the Pirates had a run on the board in just three pitches. Counsell removed Woodruff and went to reliable relief man Brad Boxberger, who got a strikeout and then a shallow fly. But the throw in from Yelich on the fly ball got away from Boxberger, who tried to cut it off, and Kevin Newman was able to score.
The next batter, Ben Gamel, hit a two run homer to left center to give the Pirates a 4-3 lead.
The Brewers tried to respond in the bottom half, getting two bloop hits in a row themselves and with runners on the corners. But a strikeout from McCutchen got one out. Then Kolten Wong grounded to first base and Yoshi Tsutsugo threw home to get an easy out of Adames who was running on contact. Urias struck out to end the inning and the Brewers threat was over.
The Brewers will be back at it on Sunday to finish the series against the Pirates in the rubber match with Eric Lauer (6-3, 3.84 ERA) on the mound against Jose Quintana (2-4, 3.33 ERA) of the Pirates.