PITTSBURGH — Brandon Woodruff pitched seven shutout innings and Mark Canha’s two-run single capped a six-run fifth inning because the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 on Tuesday night time.

Woodruff (4-1) allowed simply two hits, singles to Ji Hwan Bae within the first inning and Endy Rodriguez within the fifth. Woodruff additionally had six strikeouts and two walks whereas bettering to 14-3 with a 2.36 ERA in his final 29 begins relationship to final season.

“I thought it was a good outing and that he got stronger as the game went on and then really got on cruise control and every pitch started working well,” Brewers supervisor Craig Counsell stated. “Just a great outing.”

Coming off back-to-back losses, the Brewers entered the night time 2 1/2 video games forward of the Chicago Cubs within the NL Central race.

Woodruff missed practically 4 months with proper shoulder irritation earlier than returning Aug. 6. He is starting to really feel comfy once more after making six begins.

“I expect to go out there and pitch well but coming off this injury it’s a weird deal where I expect to go out there and perform yet not have many expectations because I don’t have a full season to work with,” Woodruff stated. “I’m trying to go out there and have fun and go pitch to pitch. I’m kind of just working inning to inning so far. Thankfully, it’s working out so far.”

PHOTOS: Brandon Woodruff pitches seven scoreless innings to carry NL Central-leading Brewers over Pirates 7-3

Connor Joe broke up the Brewers’ shutout bid by hitting a three-run residence run within the ninth inning off Clayton Andrews for simply his second hit in his final 29 at-bats. The Pirates had runners on first and second with two outs however Elvis Peguero bought Miguel Andujar to hit a game-ending floor out.

Andre Jackson (1-2) was charged with six runs in 4 1/3 innings and walked 5 because the Pirates misplaced for simply the second time in eight video games.

The Brewers broke a scoreless tie with a run within the fourth on a double-play grounder by Canha after Jackson walked the bases loaded.

Milwaukee prolonged its result in 7-0 with the massive fifth inning.

Andruw Monasterio drove within the first run with a triple to the 410-foot mark in left-center. Brice Turang hit an RBI single, Christian Yelich lofted a sacrifice fly and Carlos Santana doubled in a run earlier than Canha delivered his two-run single to left discipline.

“As a hitter, you’re waiting for the pitch to make a mistake and he made one to me,” Monasterio stated. “We started hitting mistakes in that inning. When you do that, you do damage at home plate.”

Jackson retired the Brewers so as in every of the primary three innings earlier than struggling within the fourth and fifth.

“Command of the zone,” Shelton stated when requested what triggered Jackson’s issues. “It didn’t look like the stuff ticked down a little bit. It’s just he wasn’t on the plate.”

Brewers rookie heart fielder Sal Frelick had two hits. It was a little bit of a homecoming for Frelick as his father Jeff’s – a former Pitt fullback — aspect of the household is from close by Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Milwaukee’s William Contreras walked twice however went 0 for 3 to finish his career-best 14-game hitting streak.

Pirates reliever Hunter Stratton pitched two scoreless innings in his main league debut. Joshua Palacios had two hits.

SKENES SHUT DOWN

The Pirates have shut down RHP Paul Skenes, the primary general decide on this 12 months’s beginner draft, for the remainder of the season at Double-A Altoona to restrict his innings.

Skenes pitched 6 2/3 innings over 5 video games at three ranges of the minor leagues. That got here after he logged 122 2/3 innings whereas main LSU to the College World Series title earlier this 12 months.

GM Ben Cherington stated the Pirates participant growth made the advice to finish Skenes’ season.

“They looked at Paul like he’s checked all the boxes that we wanted him to check post-draft as a pro in 2023,” Cherington stated. “They made the recommendation of, ‘Hey, this is good. We’re good for this year. Let’s focus on a full offseason and full 2024.’”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: RHP Adrian Houser (proper elbow irritation) continues to progress in his rehab and may very well be activated from the injured listing on Sept. 12, the primary day he's eligible.

Pirates: DH Andrew McCutchen (left Achilles tightness) sat out after leaving Monday’s sport early when he was injured working the bases. … SS Oneil Cruz (damaged left ankle) is predicted to renew his working development this week after being shut down on Aug. 23 when he felt ache within the ankle. Cruz was injured on April 9.

ROSTER MOVES

Pirates: OF Cal Mitchell was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis as he cleared waivers after being designated for task … RHP Yohan Ramirez was claimed by the Chicago White Sox after additionally being designated for task.

UP NEXT

Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (11-8, 3.85 ERA) makes his first begin in September after profitable NL Pitcher of the Month for August when he gained all 5 begins with a 2.10 ERA. Rookie RHP Colin Selby (2-0, 5.79) will function an opener for the Pirates.

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