MILWAUKEE — In a compelling display of power hitting, Joey Ortiz knocked two out of the park, and Caleb Durbin contributed with a three-run homer, powering the Milwaukee Brewers to a 9-3 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday evening.
Durbin and Ortiz, positioned at the bottom of the Brewers’ lineup, collectively went 4-for-8, scoring four runs and driving in seven RBIs. They delighted fans with back-to-back home runs against Andrew Heaney with two outs in the fourth inning, bolstering Milwaukee’s lead to 6-0.
Earlier in the third inning, Ortiz broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer, contributing significantly to the Brewers’ fifth victory in their last six games. Ortiz has been on a hot streak, going 12-for-26 across the past six games, lifting his batting average to .217 from .188, while his OPS improved from .506 to .572.
Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales provided a highlight for the Pirates with a three-run home run, following his perfect 5-for-5 performance in the previous night’s 5-4 win over the Brewers. Tuesday’s homer marked his third of the season.
Milwaukee’s pitcher, Freddy Peralta (8-4), maintained a scoreless performance against Pittsburgh until the sixth inning, where he allowed two singles and a homer to Gonzales. Throughout his time on the mound, Peralta struck out eight while surrendering seven hits, relinquishing no walks.
Andrew Heaney (3-7) faced a rough outing, allowing seven runs on seven hits with three walks over four innings, while only striking out three.
Key Moment:
The Pirates squandered a golden opportunity in the second inning when they loaded the bases with consecutive singles by Spencer Horwitz, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Adam Frazier, yet failed to score. The Brewers’ defense shone brightly as Horwitz was forced out at home, thanks to Henry Davis hitting into a 5-2 fielder’s choice. Peralta then struck out Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and left fielder Isaac Collins shut the door on the Pirates’ hopes with a remarkable sliding catch on a fly ball from Oneil Cruz.
Key Stat:
Ortiz effectively doubled his home run total for the season, bringing it to four with his two homers on Tuesday. His previous home run prior to this night was also against the Pirates on May 22.
Up Next:
The series concludes on Wednesday afternoon with anticipation surrounding a duel between two flame-throwing right-handers. Paul Skenes (4-6, 1.86 ERA) will pitch for Pittsburgh, while Jacob Misiorowski (2-0, 1.64 ERA) starts for Milwaukee.