Pirates build big lead, then fend off Brewers

Bryan Reynolds went 5-for-5 with a homer and two doubles and Mitch Keller tossed six scoreless innings as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates held on for an 8-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

In the opener of a three-game series, Jack Suwinski and Yasmani Grandal each added a two-run homer for the Pirates, whose bullpen allowed six runs after Keller's departure.

Milwaukee pulled within 7-6 in the eighth on Jake Bauers' first career grand slam. The Brewers loaded the bases with none out on two singles and an error. Bauers then ripped a 3-2 pitch from Josh Fleming to right for his fourth homer.

Andrew Monasterio walked with one out, stole second on a strikeout and continued to third on an error, but was stranded when Christian Yelich struck out to end the eighth.

Reynolds capped his first career five-hit night in the ninth with a leadoff homer, his fifth of the season, to put the Pirates up 8-6. David Bednar tossed a perfect ninth for his eighth save in 11 chances.

Keller (4-3) stayed in after being struck in the leg by Willy Adames' scorching liner to open the second inning. Keller, who threw a complete game in his previous start, scattered eight hits, struck out seven and walked none, leaving with a 3-0 lead after 100 pitches.

Grandal's two-run homer, his second of 2024, off Mitch White in the eighth put Pittsburgh up 7-2.

Milwaukee cut the lead to 5-2 in the seventh off Fleming. Monasterio walked and William Contreras singled. Willy Adames' doubled in both runners, but Adames was out at third stretching for a triple.

Suwinski staked the Pirates to a 2-0 lead with two outs in the opening inning with a two-run shot off Colin Rea. Oneil Cruz reached on a fielder's choice and Suwinski then lined a 1-2 pitch 376 feet to right for his third homer of the season.

Reynolds doubled in a run in the third to make it 3-0.

The Pirates added two runs in the seventh on RBI singles by McCutchen and Cruz to make it 5-0.

Rea (3-1) allowed three runs on six hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one.