Brewers surpass 2015 win total with 3-1 victory over Pirates
MILWAUKEE -- Chase Anderson is finishing strongly for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Anderson beat the Pittsburgh Pirates for the third time this season, leading Milwaukee to a 3-1 win Thursday night.
Chris Carter hit his 37th home run, matching his career high, and Scooter Gennett sliced an opposite-field, two run homer to help the Brewers avoid another sweep at Miller Park by the Pirates.
Anderson (9-11) allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings, including a fifth-inning home run by Francisco Cervelli, his first since last Sept. 30.
"I think he's pitched well, the last six or seven starts," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "Tonight, his curveball was a big pitch for him, especially early in the game. He used his curve ball very effectively. He got strikeouts with it. He got early strikes with it."
Anderson improved to 3-1 in five starts this season against the Pirates, who had won their prior six games at Milwaukee.
"He's been pitching probably as good as he has in his career," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's in a nice little groove."
Anderson knew his curveball was working well.
"I would say that it tonight that it was the best it has been this year," he said. "I don't know if that's a bold statement, but I just felt like it was."
Gennett homered to left field in the first against Ryan Vogelsong (3-6), who gave up two hits in four innings, struck out seven and walked two
"I thought I threw a pretty good curveball there," Vogelsong said of the pitch Gennett hit. "He stayed behind it and hit it the other way."
Vogelsong had won his previous four starts against the Brewers.
Tyler Thornburg pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 17 chances.
Carter homered in the seventh off Trevor Williams and matched his home run and RBIs (88) totals with Houston two years ago. He also struck out twice, raising his NL-leading total to 196.
STEALING FOR THE LEAD
Milwaukee's Jonathan Villar stole his 58th base this season, tying Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton for the major league lead.
MR. VERSATILE
INF/OF Hernan Perez made his first start in center field this season for Milwaukee and has played at every position except catcher and pitcher. '"'It gives us flexibility in lineup construction and injury and just rest," Counsell said. "We're a little banged up right now, but I think that's ultimately what a versatile player does is give you a lot of coverage."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who strained his abdomen Friday, remains day-to-day." He has to be able to get on the field and run and swing a bat in batting practice," Counsell said.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (11-7) starts the final home series Friday night when he faces Cincinnati for the fifth time in his career. He is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA in three starts against the Reds this season.
