PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Milwaukee held the Pirates to one hit, yet the tying run was on base with one-out in the ninth before John Hader struck out the final two batters and the Brewers won 3-1.
"You saw both sides it was tough because it was cold," said Pirates Manager Derek Shelton. "Ashby has good stuff. The fastball comes out of his hand hot and he executed pitches. It was a well-pitched game for eight innings."
Seemingly making a career of hurting the Pirates, Kolton Wong not only had the first hit of the game, but he started a double-play diving to his right and then a perfect flip of the ball from his glove to Willy Adames. At the time the Pirates had first and third with no one out and it limited the Bucs to their only tally.
"It was a huge play in the game," Shelton said. "That's why they've handed him multiple gold gloves over the last few years. He's really good. Willy is really good at short. They made a hell of a play and they made it on Ke'Bryan."
"It was a big turning point in the game. If he doesn't make the play we are first and third again. It was definitely a turning point in the game."
Brewers struck out a dozen batters and won for the seventh consecutive time against the Pirates and 10th time in their last 12 at PNC Park.
Bucs starters excel
Shelton switched Dillon Peters to the starter and Bryse Wilson to the first pitcher in from the bullpen. They combined for six innings, one hit, one walk and four strikeouts.
"It worked," Shelton said. "We got all the situations we wanted, we just didn't win the game."
Shelton said it gave Wilson a different look entering in the middle of an inning. He thought he 'was pretty damn good'.
"With Atlanta, I pitched out of the bullpen a few times," Wilson said. "I tried to take the approach of treating it like a normal bullpen outing regardless of how many innings I was going to go. That was the big thing for me was to switch that mindset."
"I wasn't able to think about stuff as much other than the fact I wanted to attack. For me going forward, if this is what it is going to be. I can take that mindset into it."
Diego and Jack
Diego Castillo got the first start at shortstop after the Kevin Newman injury. Castillo said he's excited to play anywhere, but especially at shortstop. The rookie also batted lead-off going 0 for 2 scoring the only run after a walk.
Called up quickly after the pair of COVID cases (Bryan Reynolds and Cole Tucker) on Tuesday, Jack Suwinski made his first MLB start. Suwinski batted eighth in right field and went 0 for 3 with a strikeout. The 23-year-old left-hand hitter, who came over in the Adam Frazier trade, was hitting .353 with three home runs and 13 RBI in AA.
Up Next
Quick turnaround for a 12:35p series finale, RHP Freddy Peralta (0-1, 7.50 ERA) against LHP Jose Quintana (0-1, 3.86 ERA).
"There's a couple things I've liked about what Quintana has brought," Shelton said. "No. 1, just consistency, the way he goes about his work, the way he's willing to listen. We've talked about his changeup and how much better it's gotten. It's a pitch that he's worked on."
"Then his presence in our clubhouse. We have a bunch of young starters and young pitchers. His ability to have conversations with guys about things; he's been through a lot. He's started. He's reliever. He's been on really good teams. He's been on bad teams. His ability to have all that has been a really nice blend for us. It was something that, when you get a guy you hear about, but it's been even better than advertised. He's a really quality teammate."
