Pirates find their bats late, take 2 of 3 from NL Central-leading Brewers

The Pittsburgh Pirates won’t see Milwaukee again until late April of 2024, when the Brewers visit town for a four-game series.

Wednesday afternoon’s rubber match at PNC Park marked the 2023 finale between the two clubs, with the Pirates coming out on top, 5-4, to take two of three games from their divisional rival, who sit atop the NL Central.

On the year, the Pirates went 5-8 against Milwaukee.

Seventh-inning RBIs from Ji Hwan Bae, who hit his first career triple, and Miguel Andujar, who came up clutch in a pinch-hit situation, powered the Pirates (65-75) to their third straight series victory.

Ke’Bryan Hayes hit his 13th home run of the season in the first inning, a solo shot off Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta, while Joshua Palacios and Jack Suwinski collected RBI hits in the win, as well.

Peralta, who leads the Brewers with 11 wins on the year, allowed three runs on four hits over 5⅓ innings Wednesday, taking a no-decision.

In Monday’s win over the Brewers, the Pirates managed four runs off starter Corbin Burnes, who was charged with the loss.

“I think we are really playing well against really good pitchers,” Bae said after the game. “We’re trying to give them tough at-bats and grind it out.”

The Pirates overcame a shaky abbreviated start from Colin Selby (2-0, 7.20 ERA), who was erratic in his one-inning performance, walking three and allowing a three-run homer to Willy Adames that put Milwaukee up early.

After Hayes got the Pirates on the board in the bottom of the first, both clubs settled into something of a stalemate, with the game largely bereft of runners in scoring position for the next several innings.

The Pirates built some momentum in the sixth, scoring a pair of runs and chasing Peralta from the game.

After Bryan Reynolds singled and Hayes walked, Suwinski ripped an RBI double into right center field, scoring Reynolds.

With Milwaukee’s lead trimmed to one, Palacios singled up the middle, scoring Hayes to make the game 3-3.

Following Selby’s exit, Bailey Falter took the mound and stabilized things for the Pirates.

He lasted 3⅔ innings, allowing a lone hit while striking out three.

“He’s done a good job in both the roles that he’s done, and today he continued to execute pitches,” manager Derek Shelton said. “He threw balls on both sides of the plate and got through a very tough lineup.”

The Pirates took a 5-3 lead in the seventh, when Bae’s triple scored Delay, who singled, and Andujar soon thereafter plating Bae.

“As soon as I hit it, I’m going three — that’s what I thought,” said Bae, whose first-ever triple came in career at-bat No. 303.

The Brewers got a run back in the eighth off of Colin Holderman, who allowed three singles in the inning before putting out the fire.

Up 5-4 in the ninth, the Pirates turned to David Bednar, who overcame allowing a leadoff single to Andruw Monasterio before settling down and ending the game on a punchout of William Contreras, earning save No. 33 on the year.

Carmen Mlodzinski (3-3, 2.03 ERA) pitched a scoreless seventh and earned the win for the Pirates on Wednesday.

After an off-day Thursday, the Pirates will travel to Atlanta for three games against the MLB-best (90-47) Braves.