MIL 3 – PIT 2: Red-Hot Brewers win 8th straight

Win: Jim Henderson (1-0)

Loss: Mark Melancon (0-1)

Save: Francisco Rodriguez (4)

The red-hot Milwaukee Brewers (9-2) earned their 8th straight win with a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates (6-5) on Saturday night. The Brewers a team few were talking about coming into the season, are now 9-2 on the season.

With the game tied 2-2 in the eighth, Jonathan Lucroy drove in the tiebreaking run off Mark Melancon. Francisco Rodriguez threw a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season. Pedro Alvarez walked to lead off the ninth but the Pirates were not able to take advantage as Russell Martin would hit into a double play after the Alvarez walk.

• Mark Melancon took the loss for the Pirates. Ryan Braun singled to deep right center with one out and Melancon would soon be in trouble as Aramis Ramirez singled putting runners at first and second.  Lucroy than singled to right, scoring Braun who beat the throw to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead.
• Edison Volquez had another encouraging appearance for the Pirates. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs (1 ER), while striking out 4 and walking 2. Volquez allowed a leadoff homer to Carlos Gomez and in the second surrendered a run on a wild pitch, but pitched  well once again. Volquez has a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings pitched this season.
• Pittsburgh fell behind 2-0 but tied the game in the third with RBI’s from Starling Marte and Travis Snider in the third inning.
• Andrew McCutchen who left Friday’s game due to discomfort in his left ankle, went 2-4 with a double and stolen base.
• Travis Snider went 2-4 with an RBI and is hitting .289/.341/.447 on the season.
• One key to the Brewers hot start? Aramis Ramirez is hitting like the player he was with Chicago. He’s batting .383 with 10 RBIs.
• Ryan Braun extended his hitting streak to six games, going 2-4. He’s hitting .459 with 3 home runs and 10 RBIs during the hitting streak.