NATIONAL LEAGUE Podsednik's homer carries Brewers past Bucs
His fourth hit of the game, a three-run blast, gave Milwaukee a 6-4 win.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Scott Podsednik hadn't homered in nearly three months, so he certainly wasn't looking to go deep even with the Milwaukee Brewers down by a run in the ninth inning.
That didn't prevent Podsednik from hitting a go-ahead three-run shot -- his fourth hit of the game -- as the Brewers took advantage of Pittsburgh's trade-depleted bullpen to beat the Pirates 6-4 Saturday.
"Hitting a home run was the last thing on my mind," Podsednik said. "If I hit one, it's an accident."
It's no accident when the Pirates' bullpen fails to hold a lead.
Bullpen falters
Pittsburgh led 4-3 on Reggie Sanders' solo homer in the seventh, but a bullpen that has struggled since the team traded former closer Mike Williams and top setup man Scott Sauerbeck last month again couldn't finish off a potential victory.
With Mike Lincoln on to start the ninth, third baseman Jose Hernandez misplayed pinch-hitter Eric Young's grounder, and pinch-hitter Brooks Kieschnick walked with one out.
Joe Beimel, 0-for-5 in save opportunities, came on to try to get the final two outs for his first save, but Podsednik hit an 0-1 pitch into the seats in right-center for his fourth homer and first since May 19 against San Diego.
It also was his first against a left-hander this season. He went 4-for-5 with a double and four RBIs.
"He's a little guy and usually you can get those guys out pitching up in the strike zone," Beimel said. "What hurt me was I left it over the plate. I wanted to go outside on him -- down and in usually is the strength of every left-handed hitter -- but I didn't get it far enough outside."
The Pirates have been unable to find a replacement for Williams since dealing him nearly a month ago; Lincoln (1-3) has blown three saves in eight opportunities, Beimel is 0-for-5 and Brian Boehringer is 0-for-2.
"It never feels good giving up the winning run," said Beimel, who usually pitches in the middle to late innings and not the ninth. "All I can do is go home, drink a beer, watch the Steelers and try to forget about it."
The Brewers have been a forgettable team most of the season, but Podsednik is making a push for the Rookie of the Year Award with a .305 average, four homers, 32 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. "I try not to think about it," he said. "You can't get caught up in individual awards."
Avoided a loss
The Brewers avoided their 10th loss in 14 games with the comeback in the ninth -- their sixth victory in the 67 games they've trailed after eight innings.
Luis Vizcaino (3-3) got the victory by pitching a scoreless eighth, and Danny Kolb worked the ninth for his eighth save in eight opportunities.
Kolb retired pinch-hitter Matt Stairs with the bases loaded to end it after walking two batters and giving up Jason Kendall's single. Before Saturday, Kolb had walked only nine in 25 innings.
"When you're throwing 97-98 mph, you can make a few mistakes," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "He was rushing it up there pretty good."
MILWAUKEEPITTSBURGH
abrhbiabrhbi
Pdsdnk cf5244TRdmn cf4120
Hall 2b5000Kendall c5020
Jenkins lf4011BGiles lf4010
Sexson 1b3110RSndrs rf4121
Vn Wal rf4000CWilsn 1b1100
BClark rf0000Bhrngr p0000
KGintr 3b4010Lincoln p0000
Osik c3010Beimel p0000
EYong ph1100Corey p0000
EddPrz c0000Stairs ph1000
Clayton ss3111JHrndz 3b4112
DDavis p2000JWilsn ss4020
MSmith ph1000Rboulet 2b4000
Santos p0000Wells p3000
LVzcno p0000Rivera 1b1000
Kschnk ph0100
Kolb p0000
Totals35696Totals354103
Milwaukee011000103--6
Pittsburgh000200200--4
E--Hall (2), Sexson (9), JHernandez (10). DP--Milwaukee 1, Pittsburgh 1. LOB--Milwaukee 7, Pittsburgh 10. 2B--Podsednik (15), Sexson (19), RSanders (21), JWilson (16). HR--Podsednik (4), RSanders (26), JHernandez (13). SB--Podsednik (25), Clayton (3). CS--Hall (1), JWilson (4).
IPHRERBBSO
Milwaukee
DDavis662245
de los Santos132201
LVizcaino W,3-3100000
Kolb S,8110020
Pittsburgh
Wells783327
Boehringer100001
Lincoln L,1-3 1-302110
Beimel1-311110
Corey1-300000
HBP--by Wells (Sexson). Umpires--Home, Paul Schrieber; First, Angel Hernandez; Second, Sam Holbrook; Third, Randy Marsh. T--3:22. A--28,143.