(SportsNetwork.com) – Milwaukee picked up its first victory of the season on
Saturday. Now, they’ll try to earn a series win on Sunday when they play the
rubber match of their three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Milwaukee avoided an 0-5 start last night, as Jimmy Nelson threw seven
scoreless innings and combined with two relievers on a two-hitter to lead the
Brewers to a 6-0 victory.
Nelson (1-0) was brilliant, striking out nine and walking just two. He allowed
only a first-inning infield single to Francisco Cervelli and a seventh-inning
base hit by Starling Marte.
“Nelson established the fastball early, but had a really nice slider and
curveball,” said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. “We did a lot of great things
today. This is the kind of game I hope we play a lot of this season.”
Vance Worley (0-1) was tagged for all six runs in defeat for Pittsburgh, which
had picked up its first win of the season on Friday with a 6-2 triumph in the
series opener. Worley allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out four in 6
1/3 innings.
If the Brewers are going to stay in the win column, though, they are going to
need a better effort from Kyle Lohse, who was awful on Opening Day versus the
Colorado Rockies. Lohse was unable to get out of the fourth inning and was
pounded for eight runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Lohse may be able to get untracked versus the Pirates, as he is 11-3 lifetime
against them with a 3.72 ERA.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, will turn to Casey Sadler on Sunday after scheduled
starter Francisco Liriano was scratched and put on the paternity list
following the birth of his daughter on Friday.
“Normally there’s a different vibe when you come in. You’re excited to be here
but it stinks for the other guy,” Sadler said. “But my congratulations to
Francisco on the birth of his daughter, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Sadler appeared in six games out of the bullpen for the Pirates and was 0-1
with a 7.84 ERA.
On the injury front, the Pirates could get All-Star outfielder Andrew
McCutchen back for the finale. The former NL MVP missed Saturday’s game
because of a sore left knee, but Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said he could
have pinch-hit in the game if needed.
Milwaukee was 12-7 versus the Pirates last season, despite being outscored by
the Bucs, 81-66.
