Pitcher’s home run sparks Brewers’ rout of Pirates

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE

Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo hit one of five home runs for Milwaukee, which went back-to-back twice in a 10-4 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

Gallardo also tossed three-hit ball over seven innings, retiring his final 13 batters while improving to 10-2 against Pittsburgh. He and Norichika Aoki hit consecutive homers in the fourth before Carlos Gomez and Yuniesky Betancourt repeated the feat in the fifth.

Jean Segura also connected for the Brewers, who added three triples and matched a season high for runs. They hit back-to-back homers twice in a game for the first time since 2005.

Milwaukee is 45-7 against the Pirates at Miller Park since 2007, the best record by any team against a division opponent during that stretch.

Gallardo (3-1) gave up two runs, one earned. He struck out five and walked two.

The Pirates jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, but Milwaukee went ahead in the bottom half on Segura’s two-run shot. The Brewers added three more runs in the inning as Pittsburgh starter Wandy Rodriquez (2-1) struggled with his control, issuing four walks.

Rodriguez, who entered with a 1.66 ERA, had walked only three batters in his first four starts of the season.

Rodriguez lasted 32/3 innings, giving up six hits and seven runs. He walked four, struck out two and gave up three homers.

The Pirates added a run in the third inning as they benefited from a double error by Milwaukee first baseman Martin Maldonado, who misplayed a grounder and then made an errant throw, allowing Garrett Jones to reach second base. Jones scored on Gaby Sanchez’s double.

Jones hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Pirates.

NOTES

Brewers first baseman Corey Hart, who hasn’t played this season, returned to Milwaukee to continue his rehabilitation from January knee surgery. Hart had been working out at the Brewers’ complex in Phoenix. ... The Brewers hit at least three triples in a game for the eighth time in franchise history. ... Marquette men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams threw out the first pitch. The Golden Eagles, who reached the Elite Eight in this year’s NCAA tournament, were recognized in a pregame ceremony.