Major League Baseball
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 3
When: 7:05 PM ET, Friday, April 17, 2015
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Temperature: 77°
Umpires: Home - Chris Guccione, 1B - Cory Blaser, 2B - Jeff Nelson, 3B - Lazaro Diaz
Attendance: 25664

PITTSBURGH -- Slumping Starling Marte started a decisive two-run rally with a single, then later hit a two-run home run as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 on Friday night after being shut out in their previous two games.

The left fielder went 2-for-4 to lift his batting average to .152, and center fielder Gregory Polanco added three hits, including a double, as the Pirates (4-6) had a total of 10 hits after being held to a combined five while being blanked by the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Marte singled to a lead off a two-run fifth that broke a 1-1 tie and came an inning after the Pirates had snapped a 23-inning scoreless drought on center fielder Andrew McCutchen's run-scoring ground out.

Utility infielder Sean Rodriguez, filling in at second base for a resting Neil Walker, and third baseman Josh Harrison both had RBI singles off Jimmy Nelson (1-1) in the fifth. Rodriguez finished with two hits.

First baseman Pedro Alvarez singled in a run in the eighth before Marte followed with his second home run of the season, a drive into the left-field bleachers off right-hander Jonathan Broxton that extended the Pirates' lead to 6-2.

Pittsburgh's streak of four consecutive games and 164 batters without drawing a walk ended when Alvarez got an intentionally pass in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter John Lambo worked a base on balls in the seventh.

Vance Worley (1-1) pitched six innings for the win. He gave up two runs and six hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Mark Melancon was called on to get the final out for his first save after shortstop Jean Segura's two-out RBI single off left-hander Antonio Bastardo got the Brewers (2-8) within 6-3. Melancon needed only one pitch to convert his first opportunity of the season as he got catcher Jonathan Lucroy to foul out.

Nelson (1-1) lost to the Pirates six days after beating them in Milwaukee by pitching seven shutout innings and striking out a career-high nine. This time, he allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in five innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Left fielder Khris Davis had a double among his three hits, but the Brewers continued to have problems offensively as they stranded seven runners and went hitless in five at-bats with runners in scoring position while losing their third straight game.

The Brewers cut the gap to 3-2 in the sixth inning when center fielder Geraldo Parra doubled in a run with two outs. Parra, filling in for the injured Carlos Gomez, drove in both Milwaukee runs as his ground out in the second inning broke a scoreless tie.

NOTES: Pirates RHP Vance Worley started rather than LHP Jeff Locke, who was the listed starter. Manager Clint Hurdle said he decided to flip-flop Worley and Locke in the rotation, but there was a miscommunication between the coaching staff and the team's communications department. ... Brewers CF Carlos Gomez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, which he suffered Wednesday night, and manager Ron Roenickie said the team's medical staff hopes the two-time All-Star will return in three weeks. ... Milwaukee recalled INF/OF Jason Rogers from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take Gomez's roster spot. Rogers hit .360 with two home runs and seven RBIs in six games in the Pacific Coast League. ... Brewers OF Gerardo Parra, who was a finalist for the National League Gold Glove Award in right field last season, will get the majority of starts in center field while Gomez is out. ... Brewers RHP Jim Henderson, on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, began a rehab assignment on Friday night at high-Class A Brevard County. ... Pittsburgh C Chris Stewart, who had been sidelined with a strained right hamstring, was activated from the 15-day disabled list and C Tony Sanchez was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. ... The three-game series continues Sa
Top Game Performances
Starting Pitchers
Milwaukee   Pittsburgh
Jimmy Nelson Player Vance Worley
Loss W/L Win
5.0 IP 6.0
3 Strikeouts 6
5 Hits 6
3.60 ERA 3.00
Hitting
Milwaukee   Pittsburgh
Khris Davis Player Gregory Polanco
3 Hits 3
0 RBI 0
0 HR 0
4 TB 4
.750 Avg .750
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Hits HR TB Avg LOB K RBI BB SB Errors
Milwaukee 8 0 11 .235 12 9 3 4 0 1
Pittsburgh 11 1 16 .344 16 7 6 2 3 0