Brewers’ rookie baffles Pittsburgh

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Mike Fiers pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Aramis Ramirez had a go-ahead three-run double in the seventh and the Milwaukee Brewers held on to win their fourth consecutive game, 6-5, over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Fiers (7-6) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. The rookie allowed three runs on five hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Ramirez went 2 for 4 and scored two runs. He cleared the bases with a two-out double to right-center in the seventh, breaking a 2-2 tie. Ramirez then scored on a Corey Hart single.

The Pirates rallied for two runs in the ninth off of closer John Axford, but Kameron Loe struck out pinch hitter Gaby Sanchez to with two men on to end the game. Loe’s save was his second in two weeks, the fourth of his career.

Rod Barajas homered for the floundering Pirates, who have lost four in a row and continue to sink in the NL playoff race.

Jim Henderson got the final out of the seventh and Francisco Rodriguez worked a perfect eighth, but Axford failed in his attempt to earn a save for the third consecutive Brewers game.

Axford walked Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones before Neil Walker’s RBI single. After Axford struck out Pedro Alvarez and Jeff Clement, pinch hitter Michael McKendry’s single scored Jones. That caused Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke to summon Loe.