Covering the bases 9/5/2025: Brewers 5, Pirates 2

Opening a three-game series against a surprising – but still last-place – team, the Milwaukee Brewers toppled the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 on Friday at PNC Park. The win boosted the Brewers' MLB-best record to 87-55 and kept their lead in the NL Central at 5½ games over the second-place Chicago Cubs, who beat the Washington Nationals 11-5.

FIRST BASE: Adding on late

The Brewers took advantage of two defensive miscues in the top of the ninth inning to add another run. With one out and a runner one and the Pirates having a completely new infield (at least as far as the position the players were playing), shortstop Jared Triolo committed his second error of the game when he couldn't handle Sal Frelick's grounder up the middle to advance William Contreras to second. Andrew Vaughn then hit an infield single to second baseman Nick Gonzales, who threw late and wild to first, allowing Contreras to score.

SECOND BASE: Timely Turang

Home runs have become a big story with Brice Turang since the beginning of August. Rightfully so. But an at-bat like the one he had in the eighth inning probably brings Turang just as much pleasure as it does trotting around the bases. Turang laced an opposite-field single to score Jake Bauers with an insurance run to make it 4-2. The Brewers were just 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position before Turang's big hit.

THIRD BASE: Bauers delivers

Bauers doesn't provide a gaudy batting average, but he does produce clutch hits. With his roster spot perhaps on the line in the coming days with Rhy Hoskins set to return, Bauers had a two-out two-run single to right in the top of the sixth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and put the Crew on top 3-2. Bauers went 2-for-4.

HOME PLATE: Priester goes deep

With the bullpen still not at full strength – and in fact down another man – the Brewers were much in need of a lengthy outing by a starter. Right-hander Quinn Priester obliged. Priester matched his season high with seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking just one and striking out six. Priester won his 11th straight decision, breaking the tie he had for the club record with Chris Bosio and Cal Eldred, who both accomplished the feat in 1992. Priester didn't have a decision in his last four starts. He threw 96 pitches, 60 for strikes in going seven innings for the fourth time this season. He had not gone more than six innings in his first two MLB seasons. Jared Koenig pitched the eighth and Abner Uribe picked up the save with a perfect ninth.

EXTRA BASES: Big Woo up

⚾ Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (5-2, 3.69 ERA) will look to bounce back from his worst start since returning from right shoulder surgery when he faces Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller (6-13, 4.21 ERA). In an 8-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, Woodruff was tagged for eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits and two walks over 4⅓ innings. Keller was let down by his defense Sunday in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Keller allowed four runs, but none were earned, while giving up four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in five innings.

⚾ Outfielder Christian Yelich was held out of the Brewers' lineup for the third straight game due to back soreness. It was thought that Yelich could return Friday.

⚾ Right-handed reliever Nick Mears was put on the 15-day injured list with back tightness. Right-hander Carlos Rodriguez was called up from Triple-A Nashville.