MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers pitcher Kyle Lohse had rebounded from a tough opening day outing when one pitch turned the game against him Sunday.
Lohse had given up one run before Pittsburgh star Andrew McCutchen hit that one bad pitch into the Pirates’ bullpen for a three-run homer in a 10-2 win over Milwaukee.
Lohse (0-2) and the Brewers led 2-1 in the sixth inning before McCutchen connected.
Lohse ended up allowing four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He was tagged for eight runs by Colorado on opening day.
“It was just a terrible pitch to McCutchen,” Lohse said. “I obviously wasn’t trying to leave it up over the plate. For me, it was the ballgame. Making a bad mistake in a bad situation.”
That’s been the story of the season so far for the Brewers, who have struggled to a 1-5 record. Manager Ron Roenicke said the team was not where he wants it to be.
“It is so early, it is hard to look at the six games we have played and make an assumption this is how we are going to play,” he said. “I know we have a good club and we are going to play good baseball.”
Milwaukee was down only 4-2 in the ninth inning when the game got out of hand, thanks in part to an error on left fielder Khris Davis, who dropped a line drive with one out. The Pirates went on to score six unearned runs in the inning, with Neil Walker hitting a three-run homer and McCutchen adding an RBI single.
“I think the runner was going and I kind of peeked up,” Davis said. “I was trying to get ahead of the play before it actually developed. That was a lack of concentration on my part. That inning was a big inning and it was all my fault.”
Gregory Polanco’s RBI single in the third off the glove of second baseman Hector Gomez put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0.
Carlos Gomez hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot in the third that gave the Brewers a 2-1 lead.
Polanco began the sixth with a double off the glove of Davis. After a single by Jody Mercer, McCutchen hit his second home run of the year into the Pirates’ bullpen in right field.
McCutchen took himself out of Friday night’s game because of soreness in his left knee and didn’t play Saturday. But on Sunday he homered and drove in four runs.
“He really had a nice game and drove the ball well,” manager Clint Hurdle. “He was big, but we got contributions from a lot of guys and went out and won a meaningful game to win a series.”
Casey Sadler (1-0) earned his first major league win, going five innings in his first career start. He pitched in place of ace Francisco Liriano, who is on the paternity leave list.
Sadler gave up two runs and four hits, striking out five.
HOT STREAK
With a walk, 1B Adam Lind has now reached base in all six games for Milwaukee. He is batting .450 with one home run, four RBIs and five walks.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Catcher Chris Stewart, out with a right hamstring strain, was expected to play his first game Sunday with Triple-A Indianapolis after playing two games with Double-A Altoona.
Brewers: RF Ryan Braun started this third straight game after missing two games with strained back.
UP NEXT
Pirates: The home opener is Monday against the Detroit Tigers. RHP Gerrit Cole (0-0) will be making his first career start against the Tigers, who will counter with RHP Shane Greene (1-0).
Brewers: Travel to St. Louis to face the Cardinals in their home opener. RHP Matt Garza (0-1), who has never won at Busch Stadium, will face Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright (1-0).
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