Karstens hurt as Bucs drop series opener to Milwaukee

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE

Corey Hart and Aramis Ramirez both went 3 for 4 with home runs, and Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens left for the second consecutive time with an injury as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pirates 9-3 on Friday night.

Milwaukee starter Mark Rogers (3-1) gave up one run in 5 1-3 innings to win his third consecutive start in his last outing of the season. Ramirez had four RBIs and Nyjer Morgan had three hits, a stolen base and a walk for the Brewers.

Karstens (5-4) allowed four runs in the first inning and was forced to leave for the second consecutive start with a lower body injury. The right-hander allowed five of six batters to reach base before exiting with discomfort in his right hip flexor.

In his last start on Aug. 25 in Pittsburgh, he was removed after throwing seven innings in a 4-0 victory over Milwaukee due to a left groin strain. This time, he was charged with four runs in one-third of an inning, giving up five hits while striking out one.

Pittsburgh remained one-half game behind St. Louis for the final NL wild-card spot when the Cardinals lost 10-0 to Washington on Friday night.

Rogers pitched 5 1-3 innings, giving up five hits and two walks while striking out five. Karstens struck out Ryan Braun, but Ramirez laced a two-run single to left for a 2-0 lead. Hart hit his 25th home run for a 4-0 lead.

After Jonathan Lucroy singled, trainers went to the mound, talked to Karstens and he walked off the mound.

He was replaced by Kyle McPherson, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day. The Brewers made it 5-0 in the second on a passed ball by Michael McKenry that allowed Morgan to score easily from third.

Garrett Jones’ homer in the fourth was his 22nd. Pittsburgh closed within 5-2 in the seventh when Gaby Sanchez scored from third on a groundout.