Paulino helps Pirates take series from Brewers

Sep 12, 2007, 13:07 GMT

Pittsburgh, PA - Ronny Paulino singled in the go-ahead run during a three-run eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates downed the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-4, in the finale of a three-game set at PNC Park.

With the game tied 4-4 the Pirates went ahead against Derrick Turnbow (4-5). Jose Bautista and Steven Pearce each worked one-out walks before Paulino put Pittsburgh ahead with a single to center. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Josh Phelps tripled to center scoring two more.

Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances. Starter Tom Gorzelanny threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits for the Pirates, who have won four of six.

'It's a very good homestand,' said Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy. 'You know you win 4 out of 6 games against two clubs that both of which at one point in time while they were in here (Pittsburgh) during the two series were in first place. And we played the hell outta both of them.'

Damian Miller homered and starter Dave Bush was tagged for four runs on five hits over four innings for the Brewers, who had won nine of 13 and fell back into a tie with the Cubs, who beat Houston 3-2, for first place in the NL Central.

'You're never satisfied losing the last day (of a series),' said Milwaukee manager Ned Yost. 'Especially when you battle back and loose it late, i'm not satisfied with that.'

The Brewers tied it at 4-4 in the eighth on Prince Fielder's RBI grounder and Corey Hart's RBI triple. Milwaukee, though, left the bases loaded when Pirates reliever John Grabow (3-1) got pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins to ground out despite falling behind in the count 3-0.

Pittsburgh got on the board in the first, taking advantage of Bush's control problems. The Pirates loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter before Pearce's two-out infield single toward short forced home a run.

The Pirates scored three in the third. Nate McLouth led off with a triple to left-center and Freddy Sanchez followed with an RBI single to center. Adam LaRoche doubled to right before Bautista's RBI single to center. Pearce capped the scoring in the frame with an RBI grounder.

In the top of the fourth, Ryan Braun walked, moved to third on Fielder's single to center and scored when Corey Hart grounded into a double play.

Miller slugged his fourth homer of the year in the fifth, a solo shot to left.

Game Notes

Gorzelanny was going for his 15th win, which would be the most by a Pirates left-hander since John Smiley won 20 in 1991...Fielder extended his hitting streak to 11 games...Pittsburgh is one loss away from its 15th straight losing season...Attendance was 10,566.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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