Brewers score 5 in 8th to top Bucs

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rickie Weeks broke open a tie game in the eighth inning with a run-scoring fielder’s choice and had a career-high four RBIs, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 10-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

Weeks had a three-run homer, and Ryan Braun and Mike Cameron also connected for Milwaukee, which won its 13th in a row over Pittsburgh, but needed the extra runs after the bullpen squandered a 5-3 lead in the eighth: Carlos Villanueva allowed a two-out, two-run double to Freddy Sanchez.

Milwaukee’s five-run outburst in the bottom of the inning spoiled a potential save situation for all-time saves leader Hoffman, who was primed and ready but stood watching in the bullpen while the Brewers kept pouring it on.

Brewers reliever Todd Coffey (1-0) earned the win after Pirates reliever Tyler Yates struggled.

Yates (0-1) started by walking Bill Hall and hitting catcher Jason Kendall on the right hand. Pinch-hitter Craig Counsell’s sacrifice advanced the runners for Weeks, who grounded hard to a diving Sanchez at second base. Sanchez threw home, but there was no play on Hall to give Milwaukee a 6-5 lead.

Yates was pulled for reliever Josh Grabow, who allowed an RBI double to Corey Hart and then intentionally walked Ryan Braun to load the bases for Prince Fielder, who singled in two more runs to make it 9-5. Mike Cameron’s sacrifice fly capped the scoring.

By that point, Hoffman had been standing in the bullpen for more than 15 minutes after missing the first 17 games of the season because of a strained right oblique. He was activated from the DL on Sunday.

Hoffman, who signed a one-year, $6 million contract in the offseason, worked a perfect inning.

Braun, Weeks and Cameron each homered in the first three innings against Pirates starter Jeff Karstens and Milwaukee led 5-2 after three. That lead appeared to be safe against the streaking Pirates, who came into the three-game series winners of five of six and were off to their best start since 2002.

But the Pirates rallied after Brewers starter Braden Looper got out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth and left after the inning, tying his career high with seven strikeouts.

The Brewers’ winning streak over Pittsburgh is the longest active streak in baseball.