Andrew McCutchen’s early home run in the first inning set the tone for the Pittsburgh Pirates as they edged out the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Tuesday at PNC Park. Bailey Falter was dominant on the mound for the Pirates, tossing 7.1 shutout innings before Gary Sanchez spoiled his bid for a complete game with a solo homer to lead off the eighth. Falter allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters, tying a career high. Colin Holderman preserved Falter’s lead in the eighth, and David Bednar slammed the door in the ninth with a perfect inning to earn his fourth save of the season.
The Pirates offense provided just enough support for their stellar pitching performance. McCutchen’s leadoff homer gave Pittsburgh an early 1-0 lead, and they added another run in the sixth inning on a single by Connor Joe that drove in Bryan Reynolds. Milwaukee starter Tobias Myers made his major league debut and pitched admirably, allowing one run on four hits in five innings. However, the Brewers’ offense struggled to keep pace, managing just five hits against the Pirates’ pitching staff.
Despite the loss, Milwaukee still holds a 2-1 lead in the four-game series. The two teams will face off again on Wednesday in the series finale.
