PITTSBURGH (AP) – Lorenzo Cain and Luis Urias scored in doubles with two runs, Adrian Houser hit five goalless innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 on Wednesday evening.
Cain’s hit in the fourth inning pushed the Brewers’ lead to 3-0. Urias’ double came during a sixth, sixth run that led to the 6-0.
“When we had scoring opportunities it was pressure and we made the most of it when the guys put out some really big hits,” said Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell.
Pirates rookie Rodolfo Castro became the first player in Major League history to score his first five hits on all home runs after hitting two more long balls on Wednesday. The Switch hit Castro surpassed Trevor Story’s mark in 2016 with the Colorado Rockies.
“I don’t think it’s sustainable, but if he wants to try, he can try,” joked Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “He continues to take good, aggressive turns. We saw him in (Double-A) Altoona this year, but it’s very impressive. “
Houser (7-5) allowed two hits while punching two and leaving one.
“Adrian was really astute,” said Counsel. “He was in control of the game from the start. I’ve definitely seen a crispness in his game. “
Houser is 4-0 in his last 11 starts and the Brewers have won each of their last eight games.
“The team wins the game, that’s the goal,” said Houser. “Get out there, go as deep as you can, take the lead off the hill, give your team a chance to win the ball game.”
Avisail Garcia had three hits for NL Central-leading Brewers who won four out of five. Omar Narvaez and Tyrone Taylor added two hits each.
Pirates rookie Max Kranick (1-2) was marked with more than five points on his fourth start in the Major League for six runs and 10 hits in one inning. Kranick threw five perfect innings against St. Louis in his debut on June 27, but has since given up 13 runs in 11 innings.
Rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes had two of the Pirates’ six hits.
Garcia opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first and Cain’s double to the wall in the right center three innings later made it 3-0. After Urias’ double in the sixth, Kolten Wong hit a prey fly.
Taylor’s RBI single in seventh led Milwaukee to 7-0.
ADD BREWERS ALL-STAR
The Brewers acquired Arizona all-star third baseman Eduardo Escobar for two prospects in a deal that was closed during the game on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old Escobar made his first All-Star game this season, beating .246 with 22 homers. The switch hitter should be a valuable and versatile piece and could get significant playing time on first base, a position he hasn’t played in major leagues.
“We feel like we can put up a tough line-up every night,” said Counsell. “The takeover of Escobar enables us to do that.”
TRAINER ROOM
Pirates: RHP Trevor Cahill is indefinitely out after suffering a broken right foot last Friday when he slipped on the steps in Oracle Park in San Francisco. Cahill was already on the list of injuries with a left calf strain…. RHP Chase DeJong underwent surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee on Tuesday and will miss the rest of the season. … OF Ka’ai Tom (lower back) has resumed his baseball activities … LHP Sam Howard (right hamstrings) throws to 90 feet.
NEXT
The Brewers will try to sweep the three-game series Thursday night with RHP Freddy Peralta (7-3, 2.29 ERA) versus RHP Chad Kuhl (3-5, 4.38).
The opponents only beat 0.129 against Peralta this season. Kuhl is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in his last six starts.
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