Pirates defeated by Broxton’s homer

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE

Zach Davies anticipated exactly how the Pittsburgh Pirates played.

Keon Broxton hit a pinch-hit home run, Manny Piqa drove in two runs, Davies pitched into the seventh and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pirates 3-1 on Tuesday night.

“Just a good battle,” Davies said. “Both teams care about the game. Both teams are in it to win it.”

Davies (14-6) allowed six hits, including Adam Frazier’s run-scoring triple in the sixth, walked two and struck out two.

“Zach pitched great again tonight, and we scored enough runs to win,” Travis Shaw said after the Brewers pulled to 11/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs who lost 2-1 to Cincinnati.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle tipped his cap to the Milwaukee starter.

“Davies kept the ball on the ground really well early,” Hurdle said. “Five of the first six hitters hit ground balls. We ended up with 10 ground ball outs on the outing.”

Jared Hughes took over for Davies and retired Josh Harrison on a bouncer back to the mound. Jacob Barnes handled the eighth and Corey Knebel pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Piqa capitalized on Shaw’s success against Ivan Nova (10-10). Shaw came in batting .769 (10 for 13) against the big right-hander. He singled in the second and scored when Piqa bounced into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded. In the sixth, Shaw walked and scored on Piqa’s two-out infield hit.

Broxton drove a 3-2 pitch in the seventh from A.J. Schugel into the Pirates’ bullpen for the third pinch-hit home run of his career and first this season.

Nova allowed one earned run and four hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out four.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: OF Gregory Polanco was placed on the 10-day disabled list (retroactive to Sunday) with a left hamstring strain. He suffered the injury Saturday in Toronto and left the game. He missed Sunday’s game, too. ... C Elias Diaz was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis for his third stint this season. ... C Chris Stewart started for C Francisco Cervelli who left Sunday’s game with left hand/wrist discomfort.

Brewers: Shaw was back in the lineup after missing Sunday’s game. He had fouled pitches off his foot and knee in the same at-bat Saturday night.