Third-inning blunders too much for Pirates to overcome in 3-2 loss to Brewers

PITTSBURGH — When asked Tuesday evening about the early success by his starting rotation, Pirates manager Derek Shelton highlighted numerous factors, but first on the list was his team’s ability to avoid putting runners on base.

“We're keeping people away from free passes,” Shelton said. “I think that's been the biggest thing: staying in attack mode and going right after guys."

To Shelton’s dismay, it was a handful of mistakes and free passes that ultimately led to the Pirates downfall Wednesday evening, as a three-run third inning fueled by two walks, two hit batters and an error helped the Brewers capture a 3-2 victory at PNC Park.

The inning of chaos began with Sal Frelick reaching first base on an error from Rowdy Tellez. Pirates starter Josh Fleming responded well with a strikeout, but another miscue the following at-bat in the form of a walk set the table for trouble.

With his trip one-time through the order complete, Fleming was replaced by Luis Ortiz with one out and runners on first and second.

Against his first batter on the day, Ortiz surrendered the game’s first run against William Contreras, who singled home Frelick. He then hit both Willy Adames and Rhys Hoskins to make the score 2-0, and then walked Blake Perkins to plate the Brewers’ third and final run of the evening.

Bryan Reynolds helped the Pirates strike back in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run. But despite being just another big swing away from tying things up, the rest of the Pirates offense was unable to come through for the remainder of the night.

Fleming, who made his first start of the season Wednesday, was the game’s losing pitcher, falling to 1-1 on the year. Milwaukee’s Bryan Hudson earned the win, improving him to 2-0. Joel Payamps earned the save for the Brewers, his fourth of the season.

On the mound

The trio of Fleming, Ortiz and Roansy Contreras combined to get the Pirates seven strong innings on the mound, allowing just three runs, one of them earned. Collectively, they struck out seven batters, but issued five walks in addition to Ortiz’s two hit batters.

At the plate

Reynolds’ homer was a no-doubter off the bat, traveling 402 feet at 103 mph over the right-center field wall. The blast ties him with Andrew McCutchen, Oneil Cruz and Edward Olivares for the team lead in home runs (3).