Oneil Cruz and Andrew McCutchen came up big for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night, leading the team to a 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers and snapping a six-game losing streak.
Cruz collected three hits and drove in a pair of runs, while McCutchen hit a leadoff homer as part of a three-hit performance. Jared Jones (2-2) allowed one run on four hits in six innings to earn the win, while David Bednar closed it out for his third save of the season.
The Pirates got on the board early when McCutchen led off the game with a 414-foot home run to center. It was McCutchen’s 11th career leadoff homer with the Pirates, which puts him second behind Barry Bonds in franchise history.
The Brewers tied the game in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Rhys Hoskins, but the Pirates retook the lead in the sixth inning on an RBI groundout by Jack Suwinski and a two-run single by Cruz.
The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth inning, but Jones was able to retire Blake Perkins to end the threat. Hunter Stratton allowed one run in the eighth inning, but Bednar came on to close out the game and earn the save.
The win was the Pirates’ first since last Sunday, when they defeated the Phillies 9-2. The Pirates and Brewers will continue their four-game series on Tuesday night.
