Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Cody Ransom's eighth inning grand slam lifted
the Milwaukee Brewers to 10-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of
a three-game set at Miller Park.
Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez both singled before executing a double-steal to
put runners at second and third. Rickie Weeks was then intentionally walked to
load the bases for Ransom, who crushed his first career grand slam.
Braun finished the game 4-for-4 with a pair of solo homers and Corey Hart had
three hits and scored a run for the Brewers, winners in three of four and
seven of 10.
Francisco Rodriguez (2-4) got the win after tossing a scoreless seventh. Zack
Greinke started for Milwaukee and gave up six runs -- five earned -- on seven
hits and struck out six.
Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker each homered for the Pirates,
who had won six of seven coming in.
Tony Watson (4-1) was pegged with the loss after giving up Ransom's grand
slam.
The Brewers scored three with two outs in the first to go up 3-0. Ryan Braun
blasted a solo homer, his 25th of the year. Aramis Ramirez followed with a
walk and Corey Hart singled before Weeks smacked a double to plate two more.
Pittsburgh got on the board in the third because of a two-out error. James
McDonald walked, moved to third on a Drew Sutton double and then scored when
Weeks committed an error.
A four-run fourth gave the Pirates a 5-3 advantage. Rod Barajas and Clint
Barmes hit each singled before Sutton doubled to left to score Barajas. Walker
followed with a three-run homer to left-center to clear the bases.
The Brewers were able to push one across in the home half. Martin Maldonado
singled, moved to second when Norichika Aoki walked and took third when Nyjer
Morgan grounded out. Braun followed with a single to plate Maldonado.
Alvarez's solo shot in the fifth made it 6-4.
But Milwaukee scored again in the home half after Weeks walked, moved to
second on a Maldonado single and scored when Travis Ishikawa singled to left-
center.
Braun's second homer of the night knotted things up at 6-6 in the sixth.
McCutchen hit a home run in the ninth to cap the scoring.
GAME NOTES:
Braun has 16 multi-homer games in his career and four this season...Maldonado
had a career-high four hits and stole his first base...Milwaukee has four
grand slams this season...Walker extended his hitting streak to 13 games...The
Pirates were unable to sign first-round draft pick Mark Appel. The Pirates
will have the ninth overall selection in next year's draft as compensation for
not being able to sign him.
The Sports Network