Pirates lose in the 10th on Braun single

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE

Ryan Braun’s two-out single scored Rickie Weeks from second base in the 10th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Milwaukee tied it at 4 in the ninth on George Kottaras’ RBI triple off Octavio Dotel, who blew his fourth save in 23 chances.

Pinch-hitter Jim Edmonds singled leading off the 10th against Evan Meek (4-3), the Pirates’ NL All-Star representative. Dave Bush, slated to be the Brewers’ starter tonight, pinch-ran and was erased on Weeks’ fielder’s choice groundout.

Weeks then stole second. Corey Hart struck out and Prince Fielder was intentionally walked.

Braun, who singled in the sixth but was in a 1-for-21 slump, hit the first pitch from Meek, who came into the game with a 0.94 ERA in 48 innings, to the base of the right-field wall. Weeks scored without a play.

Milwaukee closer John Axford (4-1) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win.

With one out in the ninth, Carlos Gomez beat out a bunt single. He stole second and continued to third when catcher Ryan Doumit’s throw sailed into center field for an error.

With the infield in, Kottaras’ liner down the line got by first baseman Garrett Jones for a tying triple. Kottaras tried to score when Dotel’s pitch to Alcides Escobar bounced away from Doumit, but his throw to Dotel at the plate was in time to get Kottaras and keep the score tied.

Escobar struck out, sending the game into extra innings.

Andrew McCutchen and Lastings Milledge homered for the Pirates. Hart and Fielder homered for the Brewers.